I just turned 50....how did that happen? After arguing with myself over the tax ethics of a Bike to Work scheme for a bike I would never cycle to work, I just bought the damn thing with real money and now need to do something with it. So a 100km cycling challenge and the opportunity to raise money for a charity that delivers practical support to troubled areas means I won't just have a lot of empty wine bottles to show for my Year of Being 50.

You know how JustGiving works. Please support me and Hope & Aid Direct by pushing the button to make a donation. Feel free to leave messages of encouragement or vicious abuse - so long as there's a donation I'm good with either. Dean and I will be trying to keep up with Mick but our ruthless training regime suggests that will be hopeless so please help me at least raise more money than him. Tiny victories.

Thanks....Ian

Visit www.solentchallenge.org.uk