Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

Details of donating are at the bottom, but a little info for you first.

Along with 4 optimistic colleagues (Chris Anderson, Graeme Smith, Clive Knox and Paul Ramm) I aim to cycle from Lands End to John O'Groats in 9 days starting Friday 24th June 2011.

I have nominated the Royal Manchester Childrens Hospital as a worthy cause as my 1yr old daughter Emily spent time on Ward 78 last September, which caters for Neurology and Orthapeadic treatment.  Whilst it was very worrying at the time for my wife Denise and myself, Emily has now been treated and is charging round the family home . It was many of the other young childrens' plights and conditions that were even more heart wrenching and the sheer professionalism and dedication of the nursing team to which I feel support is more than warranted.

This hospital is also very personal to the Leach and Leeming families as my eldest sister Frances and her partner Michael were touched by the sensitivity of the consultants and nursing staff when their new born daughter Lucy spent her first and last week of life in their care.   This was a tragic situation that started at a different hospital but they both knew that RMCH had done all they could to help Lucy, whilst knowing that it was too late.

This hospital treats children from as far north as Cumbria, down to Stoke and across to North Wales. In addition, the hospital is a national centre of excellence in the following areas:

• bone marrow transplantation, for which it is the main centre outside of London
• burns treatment - the hospital houses the largest paediatric burns unit in the country
• critical care – the hospital’s paediatric intensive care unit is the largest in the country, looking after patients ranging from newborn babies to 16-year-olds.

The support of Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital Charity means that the hospital can provide additional support to patients and their families, providing resources that make life a little easier when they are facing prolonged stays in hospital or frequent visits.

The hospital leads the Medicines for Children’s Research Network, a region-wide network which tests medicines and
treatments for children. Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital is also known as a centre for medical innovation thanks
to a number of internationally acclaimed specialists. Specialisms include cancer, growth and endocrine disorders and
inherited metabolic diseases.

As part of the Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, the hospital is also part of Manchester
Academic Health Science Centre, a city-wide partnership that brings together the city’s six NHS organisations and The
University of Manchester. Its aim is to establish Manchester as a world leader in health research.

The Charity will support research that improves our understanding of children’s illnesses and their treatment.

For some specific cases of young children you would be helping, please visit: http://www.rmchcharity.org.uk/our-patients.php

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.