I'm riding to Cure Leukaemia and I need your help.

Not particularly original to use a celebrity photo, but Wiggo and I have more in common than you might think. He may be a multiple Olympic champion, World Champion, Tour de France winner and the new holder of the world hour record, while I struggle to ride 12 miles to work. But in other ways we’re not so different.

We both love British rock music; we’re both quite moody and not always at our best in a team environment; and I also own a yellow cycling jersey, albeit I bought mine on Amazon, rather than having it presented in front of the Arc de Triomphe.

Before I stretch the joke too far, there is a genuine connection between Sir Bradley Wiggins and me. In 2012, as a seriously overweight 41-year old who hadn’t exercised properly for nearly 15 years, I was captivated by his and Team Sky’s domination of the Tour de France. Not working that summer, I watched every stage as he became the Tour’s first British winner. I will never forget watching the yellow jersey leading out Mark Cavendish for yet another sprint victory on the Champs-Elysées.

This fired an obsessional enthusiasm for watching cycling on Eurosport, but last year I finally took the plunge and through Rathbones’ ride to work scheme I bought a beautiful new Specialized bike. Clip-in shoes and a full Lycra outfit were essential to my delusional self-image: how heart-breaking to have to climb off and walk five times on my first 10-mile ride!

But I persisted and started riding to work two or three times a week, and more at weekends. I absolutely love it and, however sad it may sound, I really do feel like Wiggo as I grind my way up Highgate West Hill on my journey home. I'm still overweight, but far fitter than I was 18 months ago.

So, it will be a dream come true to ride down the very same Champs-Elysées on Sunday 21 June, having cycled 515km (320 miles) from London to Paris in four days with Team Rathbones. I will cherish that moment for the rest of my life, but it’s not about me. It’s to raise money for a hugely important cause – Cure Leukaemia.

I'm very grateful to Rathbones for paying for us to join the 'London 2 Paris: Inspiring the Revolution' ride for Cure Leukaemia. In turn, I'm donating that £500 to support the charity's vital mission.

Please dig deep and give what you can to help beat this terrible disease. Thank you.

Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page. Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure.