The Cycling Scouser cracks America

The Cycling Scouser has done it again, completing a grueling 3,343-mile coast to coast challenge across some of the toughest terrain in the USA.

The epic 40-day journey saw Andrew “Rogo” Rogerson cycle through 12 states, including Montana, North Dakota, Illinois,  New York State and New Jersey, with an incredible 10 days taking on the Rocky Mountains.

In between the start and finish points, the Jaguar Land Rover engineer from Halewood faced the elements with just a rucksack and a tent to accompany him for the majority of the journey.

Rogo is still on target to raise an incredible £30,000 for the Charlie’s Chance Foundation, a charity established to support children and their families affected by cancer. The JustGiving fund currently stands at over £10,000 for the USA adventure.

“Incredibly, this was my toughest challenge to date” said Rogo, who has also cycled from Shanghai to Liverpool and ran five marathons in five days in the sweltering heat of the Jordanian desert. 

“I was completely alone for days and days on end, sometimes without even seeing a single human being. The weather was extremely wet and grim for a huge part of the journey, and the ceaseless torrential rain can really take it out of you – not to mention your socks!

“The USA terrain is so changeable, from the extreme ups and downs and intensity of the Rocky Mountains to the endless flats of North Dakota. Plus, I had to meet specific deadlines in order to complete the challenge within the timeframe so I was always against the clock…

“It’s been tough, but as long as Charlie is fighting his battle I feel as though getting on the bike is the least I can do.”

The Charlie’s Chance Foundation was set up when the son of a close friend and colleague of Andrew's, Charlie, was diagnosed with leukaemia and was in desperate need of a bone marrow transplant. 

The entire journey was supported by Andrew’s employer, Jaguar Land Rover, which has supported the charity since it was founded. Charlie’s Chance is Jaguar Land Rover Halewood's charity of the year, voted for by employees. 

The aim of the foundation is to relieve sickness and promote and preserve good health of children with cancer by the provision of funding. Charlie’s Chance assists with fundraising to enable children with cancer to access beneficial treatments not offered by the NHS and to provide emotional and other support for them, their families and carers. 

You can donate to Charlie’s Chance through The Cycling Scouser’s JustGiving page: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/cyclingscouse