Hello, firstly thank you for taking the time to visit our page, we hope you have time enough to read it through to the end. We are Nic Pharaoh, Ike Roberts and Mark Phillips. Our intention is to promote and support the Alzheimer’s Society. Quite possibly you will know or have known someone who has been afflicted with Alzheimer’s Disease, that might be someone very dear to you, it is certainly the case the for three of us undertaking this adventure.

We intend to achieve our aim by cycling from Britain to Spain, a journey of a thousand miles and more. We will be leaving the town of Lewes to cycle to Newhaven from where the ferry will take us to Dieppe. After that we keep to the coastal belt of France until we surmount the Pyrenees somewhere west of Lourdes and then head for Castellón in eastern Spain, finishing up in the village of Vilafamés about twenty kilometres inland.

Nick’s Story:
My Dad told me when I was a kid , that life is like cycling up a mountain , if you don’t put the effort into peddling up , you aint gonna freewheel down the other side.
3 years ago my Dad decided for the second time to cycle Lands end to John O’Groats in memory of his best mate Eric who died from Cancer before he could fulfil his wish, which was to bike it for his 80th birthday. My dads mate who intended to do it with him unfortunately had a fall which left him without a partner for the ride. I've always enjoyed cycling and the chance to accompany him was a great opportunity. I joined him in Abergavenny for the journey north . Seven hundred miles later with a soar arse and aching legs we finally tamed the beast and completed the feat.
I hadn’t long since met my partner Sara when I completed Lands End to John O’Groats and seeing the heartache and everyday struggle that she went through with her mother Bess who had Alzheimer's , filled me with sadness as I watched her personality seemingly vanish whilst her physical body remained as a ghost of her former self. However this wasn't my first encounter with Alzheimer’s as my uncle Bev had also fought against the life diminishing disease , and gave his last breath a few years before Bess had hers too. Through my time of watching these people I loved disappear in such a cruel way, I felt like I needed to express my sadness, and after the red cheeks had settled back to a pale white from John O’Groats , I had many pondering thoughts of journeying to Spain on bike . Eventually through those clusters of thoughts ideas began to emerge. After much discussion and talking it through with my good friend Ike , it was decided , and the ideas started to materialize ,with visions of sweat landing on the scorched tarmac and the squark of eagles passing overhead . We both felt strongly for the people we knew who had suffered with Alzheimer's and so setting up a charitable donation page for Alzheimer's Society felt right , and would also give us the necessary drive to push us through what would no doubt be a long road ahead. Thanks everybody.

Mark’s story:
I will be leaving on Monday the 12 of June to be the support man for Isaac Roberts and Nick Pharaoh on our epic Journey through France into Spain. Nick and Isaac will be cycling and I will be driving the support van, setting up and pitching the tent each night and most importantly chief cook!!

When I was asked to come along I was over the moon as I believe helping people who are suffering is every ones responsibility. My mantra is, if we all do a little that little becomes HUGE,.

Alzheimer's is a terrible disease it takes your dignity, your zest for life, then takes your life, every pound raised will go to the charity so good people please do a little so we can all make a difference.

Peace & Love Mark xx

Ike’s story:
I was drawn to this adventure in conversation with Nic over Christmas, thinking it a great idea, that some good might also come of it was a bonus. My motivation is as follows. There is a significant history of mental illness and or dementia in my family, particularly my mothers side, a considerable causal factor in this would be warfare and the effects wrought on those who survive both in the theatres of operations and at home.

Both of my parents lived to considerable ages, incredible really considering how hard their lives were, especially their early years. They were both ill for a number of years before the inevitable happened, they both to some extent suffered mental as well as physical diminishment, my father particularly so.

Frequently they would both be in hospital, often different hospitals twenty miles or more apart. It was a horrible period in my life, an endless round of hospital visits often taking up the whole day, sometimes trying to visit both at different locations or trying to get the one organised to visit the other. With my dad especially, as his mind succumbed to the burden he had so long carried, I saw him become bitter and nasty, distressed and simply tormented. It seemed that all the rage he had held in, all the indignities he bore for our sakes, myself and my mother, came to the fore and overwhelmed him when he was no longer strong enough to hold the wall up.

Eventually my dad, my mam and my dog all died within a few weeks of each other. I found myself having turned from a man in his prime and top physical condition to a man on the cusp of middle age and sliding in to it none to gracefully, mentally or emotionally I was exhausted, numb.

As it stands here and now, I’m in good shape, mentally and physically though both those facets of health could doubtless be improved upon. I am looking forward to this and intend to do a real job of it.

All the very best - Isaac

So! As you have read this far we can consider ourselves to already have succeeded to a degree, quite likely by now you will have realised we are intent upon enlisting your support. That support need not necessarily be monetary, it might be your best wishes or a few words of encouragement e-mailed to the webpage. If, however you feel able to make a donation that would be wonderful.

We pay all costs incurred out of our own pockets – it’s our adventure. You are welcome to follow us if you so wish via the webpage and to contribute your thoughts the same way. Whether you stick with us or not we thank you sincerely, we honour you for the time you have already invested in us and most importantly we wish all of you the very best for your own journey. Peace be upon you – go well.

Nic, Ike & Mark 7th June 2017