Walk 40 miles across the South Downs Way for Action Medical Research

Late on 20 July 2012 walkers will be preparing for a 40-mile endurance trek across the South Downs Way. The walk kicks off from Devil's Dyke, Brighton at midnight heading down the South Downs Way to Alfriston routing south to Exceat before a gruelling walk across the Seven Sisters finishing at Beachy Head, Eastbourne.

The walk will take walkers around 12-16 hours where they will be raising over £1,500 per team of four.

PLOD is not for the faint hearted or the ill-prepared. We have designed a gruelling course that will probably push you further than you have ever been pushed before.

The PLOD - South Downs Way is perfect for groups, friends or work colleagues. Companies looking to develop team bonding will benefit, and for those seeking an out-and-out challenge against their competitors, this event will deliver on all fronts.

Join the ultimate walking challenge in the south east

If you need kit for the walk, buying through this Amazon link will also benefit Action Medical Research, the charity receives a small percentage of the transaction at no cost to you. 

Having trouble finding a local sportive ride?

Check out our brand new RIDE 100 series microsite. You can find all the upcoming 100-mile bike rides organised by Action Medical Research by date or by location.

RIDE 100 is an award-winning series of 100 mile or 100km cycling events in the UK that have become firm favourites in the UK sportive calendar.

RIDE24 weekend approaches

In it's 4th year, the Action Medical Research RIDE24 takes place this weekend (23/24 June 2012).

Teams of four, six and solo riders are competing in RIDE24, the only 24-hour endurance track event in the UK taking place at the Goodwood Motor Circuit in Sussex.

The winning four-man team will secure a place in the French version of the race - the 24 Hr Le Mans event at Bugatti on the 25 - 26 August 2012.

RIDE24 is also a RAAM (Race Across America) qualifying race.

Chris Boardman had the following to say after the 2011 RIDE24:

"I think this is a great event. If people are looking for a personal challenge then it's ideal and attached to a great charity. Doing something like this is something you'll remember forever."

Watch video highlights of the 2011 RIDE24:

Dr Dawn Harper shows her ‘girl power’

TV’s Dr Dawn Harper, from Channel 4’s Embarrassing Bodies, along with 150 women-cyclists raised over £20,000 when they took to the saddle again for a women-only bike ride for a children’s charity on Sunday 27 May.

Dr Dawn Harper took part in the DIVA 100, Warwickshire ride which started at Menzies Welcombe Hotel Spa & Golf Club in Stratford-upon-Avon.

Dawn has been involved with Action Medical for several years: “I really enjoyed taking part in the DIVA 100 Warwickshire. It was a fantastic day with beautiful weather and a gorgeous route through pretty lanes. It was fabulous to see so many women out on bikes for a great cause."

The DIVA 100 ride wasn't her only cycling challenge in 2012 for Action Medical Research as she is also taking part in the London to Paris bike ride which sees 600 cyclists across four routes heading out of London on 18 July 2012 before arriving in Paris four days later.

You can sponsor Dr Dawn Harper for the London to Paris bike ride by visiting her sponsorship page.

The 2012 Action Medical Research UK End2End ride comes to a finish

The 2012 Action Medical Research Lands End to John O'Groats cycle ride, known as the UK End2End took place over 10 days starting on 26 May 2012 at Lands End before finishing in John O'Groats on the 5 May 2012.

74 riders endured tough climbs and changeable weather over the 1,000 mile cycling challenge raising an astonishing £200,000 for Action Medical Research.

Photos from the event can be found on the Action Medical Research Facebook page.

Details of the 2013 UK End2End will be made available on the Action Medical Research website as soon as they are known.

24 cyclists riding from Geneva to Nice raise vital funds for Action Medical Research

A team of 24 intrepid riders, We Hate Hills & Wind, are cycling over 350 miles from Geneva to Nice on 29 June to raise vital funds for Action Medical Research.

The original five We Hate Hills & Wind riders (Glen, Bryn, Terry, Gary and Scott) have helped raise over £175,000 for charity over the last five years with help from their ever growing team of cyclists.

You can sponsor the We Hate Hills & Wind team on the Action Medical Research website at http://www.action.org.uk/sponsor/wehatehills2012

Find out more about the team on their website - http://www.wehatehills.co.uk/ - or follow them on Twitter (@wehatehills) and Facebook.

If you want to take part in your own cycling challenge, head over to the Action Medical Research website.

"Year of Madness" reaches over £8,000 in sponsorship

The Year of Madness involves Eddie Whittle and John McDonough taking part in 12 challenges including swimming, running, cycling, hiking and canoing between October 2011 and September 2012.

The 12 challenges are raising money for MacMillan Cancer Support, Action Medical Research, Cardiac Risk in the Young and The British Heart Foundation. Eddie and John are planning on raising £12,000 shared evenly between the four charities and are well on their way having raised £8,184 to date.

You can follow their progress on their website - http://www.madness4charity.co.uk/ - and on Twitter (@yearofmadness).

We wish Eddie and John all the success in their great effort.