One year ago I decided that 2010 would be my "Year of Doing Something Stupid on a Bicycle". No longer content with merely commuting to work and doing the odd London to Brighton charity ride, in 2008 I joined Bigfoot Cycle Club and have seen my fitness improve as I have taken on longer and more challenging rides.
So on the first weekend in July 2010, I will be travelling to the French Alps to take part in La Marmotte, which is 174 km long and includes 4 major climbs totalling 5 km, which should see me arrive at the top of Alpe d'Huez!
Since my good friend Pete (behind me in the photo above) runs NAPAC (the National Association for People Abused in Childhood), I would like to raise funds to help him in this valuable work. NAPAC exists to help survivors of abuse and to provide training and education about this subject. To find out more, please take a look at their website at www.napac.org.uk. If you want to read an account of how damaging this issue can be, then take a look at former England rugby player Brian Moore's recent account in the Daily Telegraph (2 January 2010): http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/6923457/Brian-Moore-the-abuse-and-abandonment-that-shaped-rugbys-Pit-Bull.html
The fitter guys will complete this ride in 7 or 8 hours. Me? I'll probably be in the saddle for more like 10 or 12 hours. I've got a lot of serious training to do over the coming months, so please dig deep and donate now to inspire me on my way.
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.

