Find out how rider Rob Sutherland is preparing for Chase The Sun as he takes on the challenge in support of Macmillan Cancer Support.
In just a few weeks, I’ll be standing on the east coast of Kent at sunrise, ready to take on Chase The Sun, a 205-mile ride across the south of the UK, from Kent all the way to Weston-Super-Mare. It’s a huge challenge, but for me, it’s about far more than distance.
I’m doing it to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support, a charity that has helped so many people during the toughest moments of their lives. Their work genuinely changes lives, and this ride is my way of giving something back.
Training for something like this sounds heroic on paper… but it’s been a juggling act between work, family, cycling and trying to remember what sleep feels like. Long rides squeezed into early mornings, late evenings and the occasional “quick spin” that somehow turns into 40 miles.
But the thing that’s made it all so much easier and enjoyable is the group I’m doing it with. Not having to train alone has been a game-changer. The lads have been absolutely smashing it, week after week, and their effort has pushed me to get the miles in my own legs.
When you’re tired, busy or questioning your life choices halfway up a hill, having a group around you makes all the difference. They’ve kept me accountable, kept me laughing and reminded me why I love cycling in the first place. Somewhere in the chaos of training, I’ve genuinely found my love for the bike again.
The support from everyone following this journey has been incredible. With two weeks still to go, the fundraising is already going brilliantly, and I’m really hoping to smash my target of £400. Every donation, every message, every “you’re mad but fair play” has meant the world.
It’s fuel and I’ll be carrying it with me from sunrise to sunset.
What I’m looking forward to most isn’t just rolling onto the pier at Weston-Super-Mare (although seeing my family after 205 miles in the saddle might finish me of emotionally), It’s the entire journey. The changing landscapes across the south of the UK. The quiet lanes. The rolling hills. The shared suffering. The shared laughs. The feeling of moving across a whole stretch of the country powered by nothing but stubbornness, legs and a good cause.
This ride is a challenge, a tribute, a personal reset and a chance to make a real difference. And when that sun rises on the 20th of June, I’ll be surrounded by a brilliant group, supported by amazing people and determined to carry Macmillan’s green all the way to the west coast.
Are you riding for Macmillan Cancer Support?
We’d love to hear your story. Drop us an email at chasethesun.org@gmail.com if you’d like to tell us about your experience preparing for Chase The Sun.
This ride is a challenge, a tribute, a personal reset, and a chance to make a real difference…”
Follow Rob as he chases the sun on the longest day: @robsutherland88
