So I did it. 190 miles. 6,000 calories. 135,000 pedal rotations.

On my fixed gear bike, with one gear, one brake, and no freewheel, I struggled up and down hills and over long stretches of grey English and Welsh countryside as I cycled from Unilever's Leatherhead office to Mel's home in Wales. No fancy carbon or electronic gear shifting for me.

I am still in pain. The pain in my left knee is slightly less than the pain in my right knee. My hand is swollen and ribs are bruised from where I fell off the bike after not unclipping quickly enough. And my back aches from being hunched over a bike for two days on end.

Nevertheless, in spite of my suffering, I doubt it compares even slightly to the pain which cancer can bring with it. I never knew of Mel myself, this ride's titular figure who passed away from cancer in 2013, but I do know of many others like her who have in some way had their lives affected by cancer.

So please do  donate generously to the Miles4Mel charity Get A Head which provides support for and research into head and neck cancers. Thank you.

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. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity