He will start today on the west coast of the United States by dipping his bicycle's front wheel into the Pacific Ocean and 32 days and 3,440 miles later he hopes to finish by dipping his wheel into the Atlantic Ocean on the east coast.

With the aim of raising £3,000 for the Motor Neurone Disease Association, Pembroke College Porter Andrew Rogers is setting off today to cycle across the United States. He will begin his journey in Costa Mesa, California, and follow a gruelling schedule. The 53-year-old will average between 85 and 153 miles a day and aims to finish on 24 May in Amesbury, Massachusetts.

Rogers is one of many University staff and students who are willing to go the extra mile for good causes. Last year, £1 million was raised and donated to charity by staff and students, according to the University's Community, Outreach and Widening Participation survey.

For Rogers, raising funds is a way of honouring a late friend who had suffered from motor neurone disease. In the past, he's cycled long distances on behalf of numerous charities, including Guide Dogs for the Blind. “It's a challenge, but I get to meet interesting people and raise awareness and money for charity,” Rogers said.

To train for long treks like the one he's taking across the States, Rogers cycles daily, sometimes driving part of the way from home and biking the last 12 miles to report for work. On average, he spends two to four hours a day on his bike. “It does get addictive,” he added. “Especially on days when the sun is out and I'm riding through the countryside.”

He's developed a strategy for completing longer journeys. “If you think I have 120 miles today, that is kind of daunting,” he said. “The best way to cope is just to break it down into manageable chunks. I find myself thinking, ‘After 40 miles I can have a cup of tea'”.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Licence. If you use this content on your site please link back to this page.