First up, big thank you for taking the time to read this.

We're planning on cycling the width of the country; from Whitehaven in Cumbria to Tynemouth by Newcastle following pretty close to the official coast to coast cycle routes as we can. Crap navigation aside we should be doing around hundred and thirty miles in the two days.

The reason for this, aside seemingly lacking the gene responsible for self preservation, is to raise money for the Association for Spina Bifida Hydrocephalus (ASBAH) who help a great many people deal with living with SBH. People such as a friend of mine and his wee lad.

I've done some fund raising in the past, as you'll probably well know when I've asked you to dig out your wallet/purse then, but this has always been for some large, generic charity that although well meaning don't directly benefit someone I know and this is a chance to change that, a real chance to say thank you.

That's why this event also represents the biggest challenge to accomplish, so much more than past events - I've even trained for this one for the past two month losing nearly two stone in the process! That's how seriously we're all taking this and, I hope, how seriously you take this too by digging deep and giving whatever you can afford to these great people so they can help many more to come.