Thank you for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page. I am attempting to personally raise £3,000 and increase awareness for our nominated charities - please see below. I would be grateful if you would take the time to read my story and even more grateful for any donation you could spare to make.

From 11th to 16th March 2010, myself and 100 other road cyclists from the UK property and construction industry will be riding 1,500km from the Greenwich Observatory in London to Cannes in the South of France.

Despite heavy rain, frost, mud, errant tractors and wildlife, and recently losing bits of my chin on the icy roads, I have been getting dizzy cycling circuits around the Hampshire and Dorset hills during weeknights and weekends in preparation for this monumental challenge. By the finish at the Mediterranean, the other riders and I hope to have raised over £400,000 for the good causes that we represent.

We will start and finish each day in the dark whilst maintaining an average speed of 15-17 mph. At this time of year and at the altitudes we will reach, it wouldn’t be a surprise to encounter some snow along the way too. A baton will be carried continuously by the team leaders for the entire distance to Cannes and presented to the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, on our arrival at the Palais des Festivals.

A lot of time, effort, pain, sweat and my own financial commitment has gone into this fundraising challenge already and I would be extremely grateful of any donation you could make to help me reach my target.

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it’s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.

Land Aid

Land Aid supports homelessness in conjunction with other charities. In 2009, C2C helped to launch the Foundations for Life Centre at Centrepoint Camberwell. This is one of five centres providing learning facilities, advice and support to homeless young people. In 2010, money from C2C will once again help to fund this £1 million pound programme.

Tom's Trust

Tom was killed as he walked home on 12 January 2006. Tom’s family and fiancée decided that a lasting memorial would be a charitable trust to assist disadvantaged children to achieve their potential by gaining access to appropriate educational facilities and opportunities. Funds received from C2C in 2009 went to part fund a new teacher at Kids Company. They provide practical, emotional and educational support to 13,500 vulnerable inner-city children and young people in London. Funds raised from the 2010 ride will be used to support further projects with disadvantaged children and young people.

The Duke of Edinburgh Award

The DofE is a charity that inspires, guides and supports young people in their self development. They help young people from every possible background to gain the attitudes and skills needed to succeed in life. Many of these young people face a lack of opportunity for education and training and taking part in the DofE can not only divert them from antisocial behaviour, but help them to develop skills that are useful for gaining employment. Much of their work is in training the leaders and volunteers who guide and inspire the 275,000 taking part in the programme.

The Sarah Matheson Trust

The Sarah Matheson Trust for Multiple System Atrophy (MSA) provides information and support to those living with MSA, their families, carers and health care professionals. This support is provided through a telephone and email helpline run by Specialist Nurses, regional support groups and seminars for health care professionals. The Trust also funds research into the possible causes of MSA and its treatment.

Article 25

620 million children do not have decent or safe housing to live in. Article 25 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is the only article referring to the built environment. It says that adequate housing and shelter are a fundamental human right. The charity Article 25 works to build better wherever there is disaster, poverty or need.

The money received from C2C makes a significant difference to the work of Article 25. Over the last three years, funding from C2C has helped to provide; over 80 earthquake proof homes in northern Pakistan; a children’s home in Ghana; a school for street children in Goa; and rescued a children’s counselling unit in Lesotho from poor design and construction. Funds received in 2010 will help them to complete the following current projects; sports facility for schools in Ethiopia; prototype child-friendly schools and the masterplan and construction design for Gola Forest National Park, both in Sierra Leone.