FOUR young men from Ludlow are preparing for the cycling experience of a lifetime.

They have given themselves 40 days to cover the 4,000 miles from San Francisco to New York in memory of a young man from Ludlow who died in 2010, aged just 19, from an aggressive form of stomach cancer.

Joel Lawrence was a talented young chef who had his life tragically cut short but left a legacy in the form of ‘Joel’s Wish’, a charity that supports the Severn Hospice that looked after him at the end of his life.

The charity also provides practical help to young people suffering from cancer and their families.

“Joel left a lot of great memories and was a young man wise beyond his years,” said Kyle Williams, aged 24, a graphic designer from Ludlow, who has been designated as the main cyclist for the adventure.

He will be part of a team alongside fire fighters Richard Clarke, aged 25, and George Jacks, 24, who will be the back-up rider if illness or injury befalls Kyle.

The fourth member of the team, also from Ludlow, is Mike Baker, aged 25, who is a cabinet maker.

There will also be an important fifth member of the team in the form of Joel Lawrence’s teddy bear.

“The charity is ‘Joel’s Wish’ and it had been Joel’s wish to travel from one side of the USA to the other so we will be fulfilling the wish for him,” said Kyle.

Money raised will be split with 20% going to the Severn Hospice and the rest being used in different ways to help young people with life limiting illnesses.

This will include providing help with travel costs to hospital and also providing equipment that they might need such as computers.

So far Joel’s Wish has raised more than £50,000 in five years but before the cycling team can make money they have to cover the estimated £8,400 cost of their adventure.

This includes not only getting to and from the USA but also the hire of a motor home as well as food, drink and accommodation.

This is where the Ludlow Rotary Club comes into play.

Ludlow Rotarians are providing £2,500 but the help goes beyond this.

The Rotary Club is also helping to contact all the Rotary Clubs on the route of the ride in the hope that they will not only provide money but also perhaps offer accommodation.

Kyle, Richard, Jack and Mike along with the teddy bear, bike and other equipment will fly to San Francisco in the middle of next month (April).

They are allowing 40 days for the 4,000 mile journey which means an average of 100 miles a day. A few rest days are also being included in the itinerary.

Kyle is a keen cyclist and has ridden extensively in the UK and Europe and so is confident that by the end of May or early June it will be mission accomplished.

More information is available by visiting www.joelswish.org