DOB:             13th September 1980

       Home town:   Oxford, UK.

In 2000, shortly after finishing school, Steve and his younger brother Ronan set off to cycle the length of Chile - the longest country from south to north in the world. The journey involved travelling through a vast array of contrasting climates and over varying terrain - from the wilds of Patagonia and over the Andes, through the Mediterranean-type climate of central Chile to the driest desert on earth, the Atacama, in the North (pictured). Their journey took five months to complete and they managed to raise money for the Cystic Fibrosis Trust in the process.

Steve says "Armed with a plan, enthusiasm and virtually no bike maintenance skills or common sense, and at just 17 and 19 years old, we arrived in Patagonia. After destroying the bike's crank arms by forcibly screwing the pedals on in the wrong direction we got stuck in a small town in southern Chile for 2 weeks. But after run ins with Pisco Sour, ferocious winds, high speed crashes, stunning Chilean girls, charging bulls and chasing dogs, leaches, explosive gastroenteritis, bandits and after 67 punctures, 7 tyres and almost 6000 km after setting out we turned the final corner and the city of Arica came into view. We became one of the youngest unsupported teams to undertake such a cycling challenge and it was our mistakes and misadventures that proved the most character building. The journey had served as an introduction to life on a bicycle tour. I was drawn to the freedom cycling offers as a means of travel and enjoyed staying fit and living outside without jumping from one tourist spot to the next. We usually rough camped by the roadside but were often invited by locals to sleep in the school or the church or someone's home - it's often the people that make a travelling destination and ultimately it was this aspect of life on a bike which left a lasting imprint.

On my return from South America I moved to Liverpool to start a Medical degree and was quickly drawn into the city's vibrant music scene. Feeling particularly inspired after bearing witness to touring hiphop DJs and legendary funk artists, I pawned some belongings, invested in a set of turntables and 'DJ Sketchy Bwoy' was born! I launched and promoted a number of events and remained at the forefront of the Liverpool club scene for close to 6 years with numerous residencies in venues across the city performing alongside high profile artists, DJs and bands. My time in Liverpool was interspersed with travel abroad including trips to India, East Africa, Iceland, Eastern Europe and to climb mount Damavand in Iran.

I qualified as a Doctor in 2005 and worked initially in Liverpool before I was offered a job at Guys and St Thomas' Hospitals in London where I worked for two and a half years, spending time in Accident and Emergency, The Intensive Care Unit and the Renal Unit. I became a Member of the Royal College of Physicians (MRCP) in 2009 and I'm also a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society (FRGS). As well as a professional interest in Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease and I'm also keen to one day work for a humanitarian aid agency and to get involved in postgraduate medical education as well as perhaps using my increasing knowledge of Wilderness Medicine in other expeditions overseas. In January 2010, from outside St Thomas' Hospital, I began my journey to cycle across six continents."