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Headeast Vietnam cycle challenge battle first day typhoon

Lewis Moody MBE, co-Founder of The Foundation and headeast organiser, polar explorer Alan Chambers MBE and 10 other fearless cycling challengers have saddled up in Saigon.

The headeast Cycle Challenge, in aid of The Lewis Moody Foundation and in partnership with yachting company Y.CO, is not for the fainthearted, with 12 challengers riding 1,000km in just 11 days across steep and unforgiving terrain.

Lewis Moody MBE said, “Following our epic challenge to the North Pole last year, I wanted to do something different that others could get involved in to raise vital funds for The Lewis Moody Foundation. And so the headeast cycle challenge was born.”

Find out more and sponsor the team

The team hopes to raise £75,000 to help fund the award-winning HeadSmart campaign to raise awareness of the signs and symptoms of brain tumours in young people and children.

Others joining the challenge include:

  • Alan Chambers MBE FRGS. Ambassador for the Lewis Moody Foundation and experienced explorer Alan Chambers has been to the North Pole 12 times. He spent 16 years as a Royal Marine Commando, trained as a Parachutist, Diver and Paramedic and operated in Jungle, Desert, Arctic and Urban environments
  • Simon Cross. Ex Weston-Super-Mare and Cheddar rugby player. Simon’s brother Julian died from a brain injury two years ago
  • James Morris. Private Motor Yacht Captain James is taking on the challenge in memory of both a schoolfriend and the father of a childhood friend who both died at an early age due to a brain tumour
  • Brendan O’Shannassy. A career mariner who has worked as a Captain and Marine Pilot both in yachting and in commercial shipping
  • David Winterflood. Husband & father, keen cyclist & runner, rugby fan & the force behind Great British Glamping, the luxury concierge glamping company
  • James Nightingale. Had served 19 years in the Royal Marines when he was injured by a gunshot wound on operations in Afghanistan. James has worked hard on his rehabilitation and has found inspiration in adventure and being part of a team again. James was part of the 2015 headnorth expedition
  • Lee Hallam. Served his country as a Royal Marine Commando before moving on to become a member of the South Yorkshire Police Force. Father of two, Lee is co-founder and current CEO of Linbrooke Services Ltd
  • Andy Ruhan. Andy is a Partner at Genii Capital and a motor racing driver
  • Wayne Hoyle. Wayne has served over 30 years as a Royal Marine and was part of the 2015 headnorth expedition
  • Julie Stephen. As a keen road cyclist with a passion for mountain biking, Julie has travelled extensively and participated in durability mountain biking events such as ‘Mountain Mayhem’ and ‘Sleepless in the Saddle’

Earlier diagnosis saves lives as mum Claire Lloyd says: “Tuesday noon I saw the HeadSmart website and by lunchtime my son’s tumour had been found and he’d had surgery to relieve the hydrocephalus.Thank you from the bottom of our hearts – that information saved his life.”

The Lewis Moody Foundation collaborates with The Brain Tumour Charity to fund the award winning HeadSmart campaign to help make thousands of parents, doctors, opticians and healthcare professional across the UK brain tumour aware. Early diagnosis can save children’s lives and prevent long term disabilities.