Six men, five days, four bikes, three inspirations, two charities and one goal.

That’s the motivation behind a five-day 500 mile charity bike ride from Lands End in Cornwall to Botany Bay at Kingsgate that set out on today, Tuesday, April 7.

The riders are who have been in training for months are Adam Mirams, Ben Wreford, Matt Wakefield and Mark Stocker. The back up team making sure they are watered, fed and the machines are kept in top condition are David Mirams and Ray Skilling.

Charities to benefit are Cancer Research and SUDEP, Sudden Death from Epilepsy.

Adam, who is vice principal at St George’s School in Broadstairs, said: “There are times in life when you are left helpless and unable to help those in need. The support you offer often seems inadequate and worthless.

“When the issues directly touch your own life and the lives of your family and friends then the helplessness is magnified.

“The idea for this bike ride from one side of England to the other was born from a collective desire of a group of friends to support in some small way the particular causes that have become so important to those people who are very close to us.

“Both Cancer and Epilepsy have left a mark on the lives of both family members and friends. The hope is that we can raise the profile of these two medical conditions and the charities that support the sufferers and bereaved.

“To Mark, Matt, Ben, Dad and Ray I thank you for your support from the start of the idea that arose one spring day over a cup of green tea in the garden. But most of all I would like to dedicate this ride to the memory of Mark’s dad, Ben’s aunt and Jordan Boyce.

“We cannot change the past, but maybe in some small way we can positively contribute to the future.”

Regular updates on the riders’ progress can be heard daily on the kmfm for Thanet breakfast show with Johnny Lewis.Find out more from this website - www.landsend2botany.co.uk