Friends getting on their bikes in USA for epic ride in memory of Ludlow teenager Joel Lawrence
A group of friends have arrived in America ready to set out on a 4,000 mile cycle journey in memory of a Shropshire teenager who died of cancer aged just 19.
Kyle Williams, Richard Clarke, George Jacks and Mike Baker arrived in California at the weekend ready for their epic journey through 15 states in memory of their friend Joel Lawrence.
The Ludlow teenager always wanted to travel west to east across the USA, so 23-year-old website designer Kyle is fulfilling his wish by cycling from San Francisco to New York for charity, with Joel's other friends around him as a support team.
They are due to set off tomorrow from the Golden Gate Bridge and cycle 76 miles to Winters, California.
Kyle will be accompanied by a fluffy toy of Star Wars character Chewbacca that once belonged to Joel, who died in 2010 - named Billy the Bear to avoid any copyright issues - and Billy will be appearing outside landmarks such as the White House and Statue of Liberty along the way.
And in another quirky twist, Kyle will be wearing tights with his cycling gear from Shrewsbury Shop Thigh's the Limit, after being dared to by proprietor Kerry Mason, who is sponsoring them.
The ride is in aid of Joel's Wish, a charity set up in Joel's memory aiming to provide support to cancer sufferers between 19 and 30 in Shropshire and Herefordshire.
The team are being supported by Ludlow Rotary Club who have been in touch with 100 of their counterparts clubs across the USA to give the Shropshire lads a warm welcome and help with fund raising.
Writing on their blog at the weekend, Kyle said: "The America people are so friendly it's unbelievable. Everywhere we have been so far, we have been greeted with huge smiles.
"I can't wait to meet the many people who are waiting for us on route as well as many more throughout communities in America.
"Judging from the terrain I've seen from the plane, I know that it is not going to be a walk in the park cycling across America but meeting so many generous and humble folk along the way will certainly make life easier."
To follow the team's progress or sponsor them visit website joelswish.org
