FOUR young men leave Ludlow today (Thursday, April 16) for a US adventure and to honour a wish made by brave teenager Joel Laurence before he died.

This is no leisure cycle as they have given themselves 40 days to cover the 4,000 miles from San Francisco to New York.

The ride is 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 support 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.

The riding will be done by Kyle Williams, a 24-year-old graphic designer as part of a team that includes 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’s teddy bear.

Money raised will be split with 20 per cent 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.

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

The local branch 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 Williams 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