Cycling Across Scotland for Childhood Cancer Research
As part of my adventures in 2015, I chose to cycle across the whole of Scotland, starting at the most northern place in the United Kingdom in the Shetland Islands. I endured the wind, rain, and mountains and over 17 days cycled 701.6 miles (1,124.4 km) in a time of 82 hours and 3 minutes.
I also chose to use that amazing experience for raising awareness and funds for childhood cancer research through Ben Towne Foundation (BTF), which partners exclusively with the Ben Towne Center for Childhood Cancer Research at Seattle Children's. BTF began after Jeff and Carin Towne lost their three-year-old son Ben to a cancer called neuroblastoma. Their tragedy became a catalyst because they would not accept that the loss of their boy and the grief could end up being a reality for others. Donations are necessary to continue monumental progress in FDA approved clinical tests that are demonstrating huge success.
My most intense attack of the route was seven days in a row that included 317.9 miles (511.6 km) and hiking the mountain Ben Nevis. I was tired after all that! I also had some rest days.
In addition to cycling and hiking, I met cousins that I discovered through family research!
Please spend some time learning about BTF and seeing some of the best photos from the cycling journey, as well as interactive maps showing the route. Then please consider making a donation by clicking on one of the BTF logos, which will take you to my fundraising page.
UPDATE: In 2016, BTF passed the fundraising baton to their partner Strong Against Cancer, where my new fundraising page is now located.
If you are further interested, at the very bottom of this page you will find links for photo galleries and travel narratives covering the journey in its entirety.
You can be the change to the outcome of childhood cancer! Simply start by clicking on the logo.
From Jeff Towne, co-founder of Ben Towne Foundation:
“Thank you, Tyler, for riding to accelerate research...and thank all of you for joining the movement!”
Facts about childhood cancer:
- Cancer is the leading cause of death by disease among children in the United States.
- Less than 5% of the National Cancer Institute's annual budget goes toward anything related to childhood cancer. Translation: the leading cause of death by disease receives only a few pennies of every dollar the NCI spends on cancer research.
- Two-thirds of kids who survive a cancer diagnosis go on to face life-long, debilitating side effects from treatment.
Facts about research through Ben Towne Foundation:
- BTF aims to cure childhood cancer by harnessing the power of the immune system, with a focus to discover and develop innovative, targeted therapies, with the goal of reducing or eliminating the need for surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation treatments.
- In April 2015, one of several FDA approved cellular immunotherapy clinical trials using reprogrammed T cells resulted in complete remission in 20 out of 22 patients.
- BTF has worked with children from five countries and the progress is being applied to adult cancers as well!
- 100% of donations go directly to research. You read that right: every penny of every dollar!
Meagan is one of the several dozen people who have achieved complete remission by having their immune system engineered to rid her body of cancer. To see the real results of the progress underway, watch the video below to meet her and hear her story.
How incredible is that!? After multiple relapses following current treatments available, it was reprogrammed T cells that did what other treatments could not.
If you have time, below are two additional films that will allow you to hear from the doctors as well as learn through an animated short film.
Hear from the doctors conducting the research and working with patients as they tell the story of progress in this video:
Check out The Mighty T, which illustrates the process of reprogramming the body's infection-fighting T cells to seek out and destroy cancer cells wherever they are hiding in the body:
As it is now that we can accelerate the progress in changing the future, I ask you to not wait until you know someone effected. By donating today, you can change the outcome of childhood cancer!
You can be the change to the outcome of childhood cancer! Simply start by clicking on the logo.
The Cycling Journey
Day 1
Island of Unst to Island of Yell: 24.3 miles (39.1 km).
The cycling route on the Island of Yell.
Day 2
Island of Yell to Mainland Shetland: 39.0 miles (62.8 km).
A view from my morning ride to the ferry terminal on the southern side of the Island of Unst.
On the ferry crossing over from the Island of Yell to Mainland Shetland.
Lovely little village or not, I’m still pedaling downhill because of the wind.
Cycling up hills into the wind while it rains. All smiles here.
Day 3
East Mainland Orkney: 32.4 miles (52.1 km).
Cycling route heading east from Kirkwall.
Cycling route heading north from the Italian Chapel.
Day 4
Island of Hoy in the Orkney Islands: 21.3 miles (34.3 km).
Taking in the beautiful cycling route on the Island of Hoy.
Day 5
West Mainland Orkney: 20.2 miles (32.5 km).
Cycling west from the Ring of Brodgar.
Cycling north between Skara Brae and our hotel.
The path at low tide across to Brough of Birsay.
Day 6
West Mainland Orkney: 29.9 miles (48.1 km).
Cyling route from the hotel to Broch of Gurness.
Cycling south from Maeshowe to the ferry terminal in Stromness.
“Let me win. But if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt.” – Eunice Mary Kennedy Shriver
Founder of the Special Olympics, Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient. July 10, 1921 – August 11, 2009.
Map of cycling day 1 to 6 in the Shetland and Orkney Islands:
You can be the change to the outcome of childhood cancer! Simply start by clicking on the logo.
Day 7
Thurso to Reay to Strathy to Bettyhill: 30.1 miles (48.4 km).
The view after leaving Thurso: green pastures with sheep and windmills.
Cycling route between Reay and Strathy.
Cycling route between Strathy and Bettyhill.
Day 8
Bettyhill to Tongue: 13.1 miles (21.1 km).
Cycling route west of Bettyhill.
Arriving into Tongue, the Kyle of Tongue to the west.
The Kyle of Tongue with Ben Loyal in the distance.
Day 9
Tongue to Altnaharra to Crask to Lairg to Bonar Bridge to Evanton: 69.7 miles (112.2 km).
Cycling route between Tongue and Altnaharra.
Cycling route between Altnaharra to Crask.
Cycling route between Crask to Lairg.
Cycling route between Bonar Bridge to Evanton. I came up that hill. I wish I could have gone down it.
Day 10
Evanton to Dingwall to Inverness: 22.9 miles (36.9 km).
Cycling route between Evanton to Dingwall.
The Kessock Bridge across the River Beauly to reach Inverness.
Day 11
Inverness to Dores then along Loch Ness to Inverfarigaig to Foyers to Whitebridge to Fort Augustus then onto the Great Glen Way to Aberchalder then along Loch Oich and Loch Lochy to Fort William: 65.0 miles (104.6 km).
Cycling route between Inverness and Dores.
Cycling route between Dores to Inverfarigaig.
Cycling route between Inverfarigaig to Fort Augustus.
Cycling route after leaving Fort Augustus
View from the swing bridge in Aberchalder.
The trail I was really not anticipating taking my road bike on.
The dirt trail continues.
Cycling through mist along the Caledonian Canal.
Cycling along the highway with the mist over the loch.
Ben Nevis: A Rest day from Cycling
The view at 11:03am.
The view at 12:18pm.
The view at 12:24pm.
The view at 12:48pm.
The view at 12:58pm.
Day 12
Fort William to Spean Bridge to Laggan Dam then along Loch Laggan and through Cairngorms National Park to Dalwhinnie: 52.8 miles (85.0 km).
Cycling route between Spean Bridge and Laggan Dam.
The River Spean and the Laggan Dam.
The cycling route in Cairngorms National Park.
Cycling route on the way to Dalwhinnie.
The last miles before arriving at my B&B, which is the white building in the photo.
Day 13
Dalwhinnie to Calvine to Killicrankie to Pitlochry then along the River Tay to Bankfoot to Perth: 56.9 miles (91.6 km).
The cycling route after Pitlochry.
The cycling route before reaching the motorway.
The cycling route after Bankfoot.
Cycling route on the way to Perth.
"You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream." – C. S. Lewis
Novelist, broadcaster, apologist. (November 29, 1898 – November 22, 1963)
Map of cycling day 7 to 13 in the Highlands:
You can be the change to the outcome of childhood cancer! Simply start by clicking on the logo.
Day 14
Perth to Bridge of Earn to Glenfarg to Kinross to Townhill to Inverkeithing to Edinburgh: 50.6 miles (81.4 km).
The cycling route on the way to Glenfarg.
The cycling route between Glenfarg and Kinross.
The cycling route between Kinross and Townhill.
Crossing south over the Forth Road Bridge with the train bridge to the east.
Day 15
Edinburgh to Dalmeny to the Falkirk Wheel to Kelvinhead to Kirkintilloch to Glasgow: 58.1 miles (93.5 km).
Cycling route along the Union Canal.
Where there was an unintended stop to change a flat tire.
Crossing the Avon Aqueduct.
The cycling route between Kelvinhead and Kirkintilloch.
Day 16
Glasgow to Cambuslang to Newton to Hamilton to Larkhall to Redshaw to Abington to Crawford to Beattock to Lochmaben: 81.4 miles (131.0 km). The longest day!
View from the cycling route in Redshaw.
View from the cycling route after the second flat of the day.
Day 17
Lochmaben to Lockerbie to Ecclefechan to Kirtlebridge to Hollee to Rigg to Gretna to England: 28.8 miles (46.3 km).
The cycling route after Ecclefechan.
The cycling route between Hollee and Rigg.
Welcome to England!
"I think I can. I think I can. I think I can. I know I can.” – The Little Engine That Could
A little blue railroad engine that learned that he could.
Map of cycling day 14 to 17 in the Lowlands:
You can be the change to the outcome of childhood cancer! Simply start by clicking on the logo.
If you are interested in seeing more photos or reading about the journey in depth, please immerse yourself in the experience with the two lists of links below!