Our inspirational group of 37 fundraisers have returned from the Vietnam Cancer Cycle Challenge after a two-week tour of the country which saw the team cycle 415 kilometres through undulating terrain.

This extraordinary adventure raised an incredible $185,000 for cancer research through the FMC Foundation, with donations still coming in.

The adventure commenced in Hanoi with a tour of the city before an overnight train through flooded countryside to Hue. The group first met their bikes for a leisurely but wet 35km round-trip cycle to a thousand-year-old monastery followed by a visit to the Emperor Tu Duc's tomb.

Day Two saw the team tackle 50km past endless rice fields and water buffalo, and excited children calling 'hello' and giving high fives. After lunch saw a challenge like no other - summitting the Hai Van Pass, a steep but scenic natural weather break at 500m above sea level which divides the climates of North and Central Vietnam.

Of the 36 starters attempting the 10km climb, all 36 made it to the top - a remarkable achievement, particularly as many of the challenge participants had only taken up cycling this year. The reward was an overnight stay in the charming city of Hoi An to indulge in some retail therapy.

Day Three's 70km cycle saw the team tackle the busy Highway 1 alongside honking trucks and scooters, before riding through undulating rural roads to the My Lai memorial at site of the American massacre of 347 Vietnamese civilians in 1968.

After spending a night in Quang Ngai, the group conquered their hardest day of cycling yet - a hilly 100km through picturesque countryside dodging potholes, cows and water buffalo. Overnight was in Kon Tom, to enable a visit to a local Catholic orphanage run by Benedictine nuns in the morning.

Thanks to the generosity of participants and their friends and family, our group took with them $1,300 worth of rice, laundry detergent, infant formula, cooking oil, dried fish, peanuts, blankets, mosquito nets, chocolate treats and toys - more than double the orphanage's annual government funding.

Participants were treated to a performance by the children and had the opportunity to play with them before it was back on the bike for another 45km.

The final day of cycling, from Buon Me Thuot to Nha Trang, saw the group ride 90km before crossing the finish line to celebrate their significant achievement with two nights in the seaside village of Nha Trang. Some team members chose to wind down with pampering mud baths and massages, while others chose snorkeling in crystal clear waters and relaxing on a private beach.

The final days of the trip were spent in Ho Chi Minh City learning more about the Australian involvement in the Vietnam War with a visit to the Cu Chi tunnels and Long Tan. With a final banquet dinner, our group said farewell to the wonderful tour guides Hanh and Laki from Buffalo Tours, who ensured everything ran like clockwork, and to each other - promising to ride together as a group again in the near future and to sign up for Ride Like Crazy.

The FMC Foundation is currently running Borneo for Breast Cancer in March 2012 and Great Wall of China Cancer Challenge in April, and is considering options for future challenge trips. For more information or if you'd like to be involved please contact 8204 5216.

For more photos from the Vietnam Cancer Cycle Challenge please visit our Facebook page or to read a blog of the trip click here.