Thanks for taking the time to visit my "JustGiving" page.

My connection with the services was my 2.5 years National Service in the early 1960s when I was an NCO with the Royal Corps of Signals attached to the Royal Artillery. I am very appreciative of the work done by the Royal British Legion and will give both the London to Paris ride and fundraising my best effort.

I have been a keen cyclist for many years and have completed many events mostly in aid of cancer research. This year in April I cycled the Scottish Bike Show Sportive a 65 mile very hilly route from Balloch about the Trossachs and return, in aid of prostate cancer research. In May I did the Etape Caledonia, an 81 mile ride from Pitlochry about Loch Rannoch, Aberfeldy and back to Pitlochry in aid of Marie Curie. In June with four friends I went to Mull from Oban and cycled for two days, the southern circle on day one and the northern circle on day two. We then took the ferry to Kilchoan on Ardnamurchan and cycled through Morvern to Lochaline, took the ferry back to Mull and then another to Oban. That gave us a 190 mile very hard but interesting route. It was at that time that two of my friends mentioned the cycle from London to Paris and I was hooked.

I contacted The Royal British Legion, registered my entry and paid the entry fee which covers all travel and accommodation costs.

However, I still need to raise £800 or more on behalf of the Legion and so that is why I am contacting people like you whom I think may be able to help. I prevailed on family and friends earlier when they very generously gave £620 to the Etape cause, so I cannot ask them again for this year at least and must now contact a wider group.

I intend personally to match any money that is donated up to £400 total.

Jimmy was the brother of three lovely ladies the youngest of whom was my late wife Margaret who died in 1999. Sadly Jimmy died in 2008 from Leukaemia after a short illness. Jimmy, the last farmer of Laigh Hillhouse, Troon, was my best man when I married Elaine in 2003. He was a kindly, generous, cheerful, friendly man with a happy disposition whose door was always open and I miss him.

Thank you for your support.

Alistair Finlay