UCL students cycle the Nile for charity

Hanif Joseph Alam, Jonathan Cornell, David Edwards, Yee Yen Goh, Junie Koay and Jane Peng represent a range of the university's departments - History, Medicine, Psychology and Slavonic & East European Studies - and hail from Hong Kong and Malaysia as well as the UK, but they all share one thing: a passion for cycling.

The team, who undertook a training weekend in Leeds over Easter, aim to pedal down the Egyptian leg of the Nile from Aswan to Cairo over the next four weeks. The ancient sites of Abu Simbel, the Great Pyramids and the Sphinx are the major attraction for some team members, while others are looking forward to testing their endurance.

"This is a challenge that has never been attempted, and it is certainly not something that any of us have done before," said team leader Jonathan Cornell.

The team will have their work cut out: although they have timed their departure as the khamsin - a very hot dry early summer wind - is due to subside, temperatures are likely to be in the range of 37-42 degrees C.

The adventure is partly funded by an expedition grant from UCL and will raise money for Breast Cancer Research, a cause close to the heart of Junie Koay, whose aunt has benefited from research into the disease. Junie explains, "We not only wanted to have a wild month in Egypt and amass memories to last a lifetime, we also wanted our experience to have a wider effect."

The six intrepid cyclists will record their  unique trip on video, which will form the basis of a documentary for BTV, UCL's student television station.

For more information or to make a donation, follow the links below.

Image 1: The Cycle the Nile team

Image 2: The route the team will follow

• Links:
• Cycle the Nile 2006
• UCL Expeditions