THE CHAMPIONSHIP CHALLENGE IS NOW OVER! On schedule, on the same tyres, and on a roast beef lunch from 20 miles outside final destination Cardiff City, I successfully completed my 16-day tour of the 2nd tier of English football at 3.30pm, Sunday 15th April.

BUT...

The fundraising continues. I'm still short of my target, and too many children still need their confidence and aspirations raised through developing a love of reading and learning. So give whatever you can spare and let's make it past £2,400!

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Cycling 1,200 miles to all 24 Football League Championship clubs in aid of Volunteer Reading Help.

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Recently, I had a dream. When I woke up I couldn’t remember what it was, but this gave me an idea. And that idea was to come up with a plan.

I decided it would be fun to cycle to every football league club competing in the same division as my own team, Southampton FC. I've not attempted anything like this before so it will no doubt turn out the word "fun" becomes interchangeable with the word "torturous".

Why?

In undertaking this challenge I hope to raise money for Volunteer Reading Help, a nationwide charity helping school children who struggle with their reading to grow in confidence and reach their potential.

The service provided is extremely valuable, and costs schools less than it would to employ extra teaching assistants, whilst giving struggling readers higher self-esteem. To learn more visit the VRH website here

How?

Along the way I'll be taking my tent and living in the hope that kindly farmsteaders will allow me to camp on their land. Otherwise I have roped in a few friends in various cities and bagsied their spare rooms.

When?

I will set off from Middlesbrough's sun-drenched Riverside Stadium early on Friday 30th March, 2012.

Where?

The football clubs in order will be:

Middlesbrough, Hull City, Leeds Utd, Blackpool, Burnley, Barnsley, Doncaster Rovers, Nottingham Forest, Derby County, Birmingham City, Coventry City, Leicester City, Peterborough Utd, Ipswich Town, Watford, West Ham Utd, Millwall, Crystal Palace, Brighton & Hove Albion, Portsmouth, Southampton, Reading, Bristol City, Cardiff City.

Over to you:

 Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

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

So please dig deep and donate now. My aim is to raise at least £2 per mile! Or should that be £100 per ground!