Updated on Feb 25th 2012 at 10:34 AM from the JustGiving API

Delighted and honoured: Ullapool Book Festival will donate proceeds from their traditional Sunday coffee and cake morning to my bike ride, plus they will have a charity bucket at their ticket desk. Wonderful news for me and, more importantly, Bethesda. :-)

Thanks for visiting. As you may know, my mother Peggy MacNeil, who was well known in Lewis and across the airwaves on Isles FM, passed away in August 2011. She spent her last weeks in the amazing Bethesda Hospice and Care Home in Stornoway, and the staff were just brilliant: so caring, helpful and full of humour. They made my mum feel very much at home, and I can't tell you how much that meant to her friends and family.

Now I want to give something back by raising some money for Bethesda.
On Monday 7th May 2012 I plan to  embark on a sponsored 130km bike ride from Ness, in North Lewis, to Leverburgh, in South Harris. This would be a gruelling ride anyway, but I am going to make it extra challenging for myself  by doing it on a fixed-gear bike - which means you can't change gear or freewheel; you have to pedal literally every inch of the way - even downhill! And going uphill? That's even tougher than usual as you can't change gear - there isn't one to change to! 

I'm already in training for what will be the hardest day's cycling I've ever done. And it will all be worth it - Bethesda is a wonderful place that improves the quality of life of so many. I'm hoping that by undertaking this epic ride, I'll be doing my bit to help the staff continue making such a difference to patients and their families.

And this is where you come in. I'd be so grateful if you would sponsor me. I know money's tight for most of us right now, but this is a truly worthwhile cause and I would hugely appreciate anything you can give.

Thank you!