I turn thirty this year, so I thought to celebrate I'd try to do something useful for other people for once and put some effort into raising money for the British Heart Foundation through cycling...

 

 

 

 

You may or may not be aware that I've had a heart condition since birth, a defective aortic valve, that has led to me having open heart surgery three times and now having a mechanical aortic valve and root. It is frankly thanks to the wonderful care of Southampton General Hospital, our brilliant NHS and the pioneering work of the British Heart Foundation that I am still alive, so this is a cause that is very close to my (oh yes I'm going there) heart (see I did it). 

 

 

I'm going to be riding two events for them, the 2013 edition of the long-standing London to Brighton cycle on June 16th, a 54 mile ride through the hills of Surrey and Sussex to the coast; and on August 4th the Prudential Ride London 100, a 100-mile course around the capital and Surrey that follows much of the route of last year's Olympic cycling road race.

 

 

 

Charity appeals, fundraising drives and sponsorship requests are ever-more frequent these days I know, but that is because times are tough for everyone, including charities, and with the government cutting funding, it is now more important than ever that if we can do, we help them.

 

 

If you are able to donate anything towards this cause, it would mean a huge amount to me, and I have no doubt it would mean even more to the thousands of other people who benefit from their work every year... And of you aren't able to sponsor me this time, I would love to see you beside one of the routes to wave me on!