For Dan Field it will be seven days and 540 miles of pain – but all to raise awareness for an important cause.

The Haverfordwest man will be one of 10 core cyclists from pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk to set off from Leicester this Sunday with a mission to arrive in Stratford a week later – having gone through Potts Shrigley, Liverpool, Cannock, Cheltenham, Wootton Bassett and Watford along the way.

But it is more than just a bike ride. Novo Nordisk have long been publicly involved in supporting those with diabetes, and for the past two years have held cycling events to help raise funds and awareness.

Indeed, the company sponsors its own professional riding team and remarkably, all cyclists involved are Type 1 diabetic.

On this trek Field will be joined by nine colleagues in cycling every day, but for each leg they will be joined by two members of the pro team as well as patients with diabetes, their friends and family members, as well as doctors and nurses.

“We’ve chose the route so that we pass through cities where cases of diabetes have been high in recent time – and anyone is welcome to join us,” explained Dan, who took part in the ride last year and has also competed at Ironman Wales.

“It will be tough. We need to average about 75-80 miles a day and there will be some difficult inclines (the journey will incorporate 7600 metres of climbing).

“But the main thing is that we raise awareness of diabetes. Just because people have the disease there shouldn’t be limitations – they can still do what regular people do.”

And Dan admits his previous experience in 2018 left him humbled.

“I met some amazing people who have diabetes. You’d think their lives would be ruled by it but they weren’t perturbed – they just got on with things.

“It was really humbling to cycle alongside them.”

You can follow the progress Dan and his teammates next week on Twitter via the accounts @citiesdiabetes and @teamnovonordisk or hash tags #cycleforcities, #urbandiabetes and #changingdiabetes.