What does it take to cycle over 4,800 kilometres and cross from one US coast the other in just nine days?

Grit, stamina, a good sense of humour… and a bottle of tequila to celebrate afterwards, according to three businessmen who will be attempting the gruelling race.

Swiss Stephan Schaerrer, 67 – whose wife, Maria, is Maltese – together with his 35-year-old son Patrick and son-in-law Ross Cumming, 39, will be the first Maltese-registered team to take up the Race Across America (RAAM) challenge to raise money for children with disabilities. Their team of cyclists also includes former professional athlete Douglas Percival.

The team was inspired by the memory of Patrick Schaerrer’s best friend, Maltese Daniel Krantz, who died aged 23 in 2003 from muscular dystrophy.

The team’s decision to sign up to the Race Across America challenge was in memory of the Maltese best friend of Patrick, Daniel Krantz, who died in 2003.

Every cent collected will be directed towards the San Miguel Primary Education Resource Centre, in Pembroke, which provides services to over 80 children, many with profound and multiple learning disabilities.

Despite being run by the government, the school is understaffed and underfunded. Since its van broke down, all outings for the children have been cancelled. The team is aiming to raise €50,000 to purchase a specialised van equipped with lifters, handles and air conditioning to transport the children, many of whom are in wheelchairs.

The father and son have participated in numerous other endurance challenges – from undergoing the Ironman triathlon and climbing Mont Blanc to trekking the North and South Poles and completing the Finnmarksløpet, Europe’s longest sled dog race.

We all are carrying a few kilos too much. But the trick is to always have eight hours of sleep

The elder Mr Schaerrer draws the line, however, at climbing Mount Everest.

“We don’t do luck – climbing Mount Everest depends too much on having the right weather window.”

The team is preparing for the race, which will kick off on June 18, by undergoing training sessions in various terrains and climates, including South Africa, Dubai, Switzerland and Italy.

They will be heading to Dubai shortly, where they are based, and Oman. Training in the heat is useful, since the route will see them cycle through Monument Valley, the Mojave and Sonoran Deserts, as well as traversing three major mountain rages: the Sierra, Rocky and Appalachian. “We all are carrying a few kilos too much,” Mr Schaerrer grins. “But the trick is to always have eight hours of sleep.”

Patrick Schaerrer during the Cape Town Cycle Tour last March.

The extremely gruelling RAAM race has seen cyclists prop themselves up with broomsticks or even rest their chins upon a Pringles tube taped to the front of the bicycle.

The team were told about one cyclist whose chafing on the backside was so bad that his crew had to find a massage parlour, detach a face ring and velcro it to the bicycle seat.

Each member of the Malta team will be on a rotation, cycling for four hours and resting for 12 hours.

Riders in the race must be accompanied at all times by two support crew. “Support crew are extremely important,” Patrick Schaerrer says.

Trekking across the South Pole in 2009.

“Cycling for four hours sounds okay, but doing it at 12-hour intervals for nine days, nerves and exhaustion can get to you. Having a sense of humour is important.

“We won’t have whiskey to keep us warm as we did during the South Pole trek. But we will have a bottle of tequila to celebrate afterwards!”

To help the team raise enough money to purchase a specialised van for children with disabilities, donate here.