Dear all,

For my sins, I have decided to cycle from my home in Oxford to my home in Germany in a week, leaving on my birthday, September 9th.

Having told some people of this crazy plan, most were not concerned about my sore bum or thighs (the bits I am worried about) but rather, that I am doing this as a woman on my own.

This has led me to choose  to fundraise for the Oxford Sexual Abuse and Rape Crisis Centre. It not only helps women who have experienced sexual violence, but also campaigns to end sexual violence against women.

Like all rape crisis centres in the country, OSARCC is ridiculously underfunded and can only survive through the help of dedicated volunteers. So PLEASE give generously. Hopefully you'll never need their help, but it's good to know they're there if you do.

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.

So please dig deep and donate now.