Cycling Across America

Our friend, Graham McGregor Smith is riding across America, from the San Francisco Bay to Battery Park, Manhattan, on the banks of the River Hudson. He is doing it for four reasons, the first three are in his own words, the fourth mine:

Target Ovarian Cancer - this charity funds vital research into developing a cure for this most pernicious of diseases, and engages in education programmes to raise awareness of its symptoms. When I was 23, my then girlfriend, Fiona, contracted ovarian cancer and died within nine months of diagnosis. With this ride I hope to honour her memory and would very much appreciate your support.

Target Ovarian Cancer: Graham's Just Giving page

Action Medical Research - when my son was three weeks old he spent five days in an oxygen tent with severe bronchiolitis, so I’m very conscious of the important work Action does in funding research into illnesses which affect newborns and young babies. Action helped fund the development of the Polio Vaccine and Ultrasound, so has played a huge part in reducing infant mortality and illness.

Action Medical Research: Graham's AMR page

British Youth Opera - provides invaluable performance experience to young opera singers on the cusp of their professional careers. Becoming a professional opera singer requires years of intensive learning and BYO helps young singers consolidate all their knowledge in annual operatic productions of international standard. I joined the board of BYO early last year.

British Youth Opera: Graham's BYO page

Graham - I've known Graham for a few years now, we've ridden together in Girona and Mallorca and meet up regularly in London, all that time he has talked of doing some big cycling challenge, some of his ideas were crazier than even this one, fortunately I managed to talk him down from those. The causes he has chosen to do it for are clearly very important to him, and I know that long before this ride and no doubt long after he will continue to support them as he has done for many years. Hats off to him and may the cycling gods spare him from hundreds of miles of headwind, and please go to the links and support the charities he is riding for if you can.

GMS San Fran