On 31 July we are doing the Prudential Ride 100  - cycling 100 miles from Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park out to Newlands Corner, up Leith and Box Hill before heading back into London to finish at Pall Mall by 5.30pm. We have to complete the ride in 8.5 hours so will need to cycle at an average of 11.8mph. This will be quite a feat for both of us, in particular Jackie, who previously thought that a 15 mile bike ride was an energetic day out!

We are riding for Unicef to raise money for the amazing work they undertake, in particular their current work in the Middle East and Africa with refugee children and those suffering from famine and drought. We feel very blessed that our children live in a country where there is no conflict and we do not have to take the heart-wrenching decision as to whether to stay and risk their lives or to undertake a dangerous journey in the hope of getting them to safety. Nor do we have to watch as they suffer the horrendous consequences of famine, drought or natural disasters.