Everything we have accomplished under the ‘Adventures in Yellow’ banner has been motivated by a period of sadness and loss in our lives, when Cancer visited our respective families. Our Pan-American trip was in response to these events and we continue to use ‘Adventures in Yellow’ as a platform to raise money for Cancer Research UK.
Cancer Research UK is the world’s largest independent cancer research charity, conducting research into the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of the disease. Research activities are carried out in institutes, universities and hospitals across the UK, both by the charity’s own employees and by its grant-funded researchers. It also provides information about cancer and runs campaigns aimed at raising awareness of the disease and influencing public policy.
Cancer Research UK’s work is almost entirely funded by the public. It raises money through donations, legacies, community fundraising, events, retail and corporate partnerships.
We support Cancer Research UK by:
- Taking the bikes to support fund-raising at public events.
- Donating all of our speakers fees (see talks below).
Aside from raising money to fight this insidious disease, we have been interested to see how the money raised by us and the legions of other fund-raisers is actually spent. We have been privileged to visit a couple of the UK Cancer Research facilities. On every occasion we have left the premises utterly impressed by the scope and breadth of the work undertaken and by the incredible advances being made in the fight against cancer in all its manifestations. Click on the links below to see the latest news…
Clare Hall laboratories at South Mimms, Hertfordshire
Donations:
If reading this website has inspired you and you would like to make a donation please do so by the following link… justgiving.com\adventuresinyellow
Talks
Norman Magowan offers a number of finely-crafted presentations covering our travels and escapades. Each talk is accompanied by a stunning slideshow, compiled from the best of over 30,000 photographs taken on the road.
Norman has been guest speaker at a number of venues such as:
- Horizons Unlimited Travellers’ Meetings
- The Geological Society AGM in London
- The Women’s Institute, Stevenage
- SBW Motorrad BMW Dealership, Hertford
- Adventure Bike Rider Magazine Night Out, Stratford Upon Avon
- University of the Third Age
- Probus
Norman and Maggie have appeared at a wide variety of events, including book signings at over 30 Waterstone’s Bookstores, David’s Bookshop in Letchworth (the UK’s largest independent bookstore outside London & Cambridge), the BMF Rally and the Hay-on-Wye Book Festival.
If you would like to arrange for an entertaining and inspirational talk for your organisation or event, please get in touch via the contact page.
We do charge a minimum speakers fee but, as noted above, all such monies are donated to our nominated charity, Cancer Research UK. For overseas talks, we would be happy to donate the fee to any agreed alternative local charity.
Adventures in Yellow 
Hello Maggie and Norman,
I’m sending this email to you because I have two things in common. First I love riding around the world, I have a small company that makes tours in Portugal and second my girlfriend was given a little time to live because of cancer. Miraculously we found in the University of Pamplona some kind of a way to skip death! She’s still fighting hoping it doesn’t relapse.
I don’t have money to make all the things and trips you do (her treatments are expensive), but would like somehow to help a cause like yours. Even if it’s not possible just let you know that I admire everything you do and have accomplished. Be safe and continue that hard work!!
Regards, Miguel
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Hi Miguel,
First thank you very, very much for taking the time to read our website and make this comment! We are both really sad to hear of another set of lives touched by cancer but at the same time we are glad to hear your girlfriend has responded so well to the treatment and here’s hoping for a great future for you both.
When cancer came into our lives it was as an incredibly disruptive and destructive force that just about derailed everything. When it had passed we wanted to fight back; our gut instinct in life has always been to remain positive and look for new paths to success. We had to turn dark times into some light once again. That ‘drive’ resulted in our Pan-American trip from 2004-2006 and the start of our fund raising for Cancer Research UK, our nominated charity. Everything about that journey proved to be immensely rewarding on every level and it did ease some of the pain.
Our fund-raising continued since then but has slowed down while we are travelling. Yet every now and again some kind soul will contribute such as the hotel in Thailand who donated our room fee when they saw the stickers on the bikes. We will rejuvenate the fund-raising when we return home through donations for our travel talks, which also serve to inspire others to chase their dreams whatever they may be, great or small!
So thanks again Miguel for the contact. It means so much to both of us to hear these words and inspires us to continue the fight. In return we send you our love and best wishes for a fulfilling future for both of you. Please follow us on the website and keep in touch to let us know how you are getting on.
Norman & Maggie
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