UPDATE:

Job done. 540miles completed in just six days, no punctures - by any of the team, hard work (as it should be of course) and emotional scenes at the final destination of Bordeaux. Looks like as a team of eight riders we should raise in the region of £12,000. Thank you to everyone who has helped me nearly reach my target.

If you know me, you'll not be surprised that I am taking on another long distance team cycle challenge. Having  completed rides to Dublin in 2008 and most recently Edinburgh in 2009, this one to Bordeaux is the longest so far at over 500 miles in just six days. It's a tribute to the Tour de France event, and will give me and the rest of the team a taste of the physical mountains we need to overcome.

Yet this physical challenge is nothing compared to the challenge that over 100 PACE children face everyday of the lives: their disabilities mean simple tasks are huge, even playing with toys. And let's be honest at the end of the six day ride I can get off my bike and put my feet up, these children don't have any choice to opt-out of their daily struggle.    

So what can you do to help? PACE needs £100,000 each year just to fund it's vital early years service for children as young as 6 months (just one area of PACE's work), every year hundreds of volunteers like me need to raise money to keep this amazing service going, as PACE receives no stautory funding at all for this input. You can see for yourself just how effective your money will be - transforming young lives; watch the short video called 'Emma's Story'. Every penny raised is used efficiently and is sincerely precious to all the children and families who benefit from PACE.

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 PACE and most importantly make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. It’s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for PACE.

When you donate whatever you can afford, my challenge gets that bit more important and significat. So please dig deep and donate today. Thank you!