So here goes with the 2009 charity challenge! After the success of GNR last year, this year, Rachel and I have roped in a few willing (mainly!) volunteers to help raise as much money as possible for this brilliant charity. Over the next few months we will be taking part in a series of challenges, culminating in the Great North Run on September 20th 2009.

The challenges include - Coast to Coast (120 miles! over the penines) and Carlisle- Glasgow Cycle Rides and the York and Leeds 10km races. Further events are to be decided upon but the general idea is we suffer and you give us money!!!! Excellent!

The challenge remaining:

CHALLENGE NUMBER FIVE 'THE BIG ONE' - weekend of September 20th 2009

Laura, Andy, Rachel, Becky, Shaun and James all take part in the 2009 Great North Run - its only half a marathon! easy!

The challenges to far:

CHALLENGE NUMBER ONE - weekend of May 29th 2009

Andy, his dad John, brother Tim and his girlfriend Emily tackle the coast to coast 120 miles from Whitehaven in Cumbria to Tynemouth in Northumberland.  (Laura will be joining him for a, yet undecided, portion of the route! Please dig deep (he needs the motivation on his new bike with an unusually hard seat!)

CHALLENGE NUMBER TWO - weekend of June 21st 2009

Laura and Andy ran the 'Run for All' Leeds 10K in training for the Big day!

CHALLENGE NUMBER THREE - weekend of July 12th 2009

Rachel, Becky and Shaun will tackle the Sunderland Great North 10K in training for the Big day! Rachel and Becky are struggling to keep up with Shaun so please donate anything you can to give us the motivation to just keep running!

CHALLENGE NUMBER FOUR - bringing in the veteran!!! (27-31st August 2009)

Over the August bank holiday weekend Laura, Andy and Dad (Ian Sewell) will be cycling from Carlisle to Glasgow, to help raise more funds for the charity! Over 4 days, they will be cycling in excess of 150 miles, through England and Scotland (and over some pretty serious hills!). This event was Ian's idea - after knowing the Singhs for the last few years and seeing the impact that Crohn's has had on them, he decided to do something to help. He has been training hard for this event and I think he secretly harbours hopes of beating Laura and Andy over the finish line. Despite the training, this will be a tough few days for all 3. Please give as generously as you can, to help the old man up the hills (donations of pies and cakes for the route would also be gladly welcomed!!!)

On a serious note - CiCRA is an absolutely fantastic charity, performing research and developing understanding about Crohns disease which has impacted directly on the Singhs' lives. We're doing this to help other kids like Katy and help find a cure for this devastating disease. The charity has a real impact on peoples lives and is a great cause. So, please dig as deep as you possibly can and help make an impact today.

Last year we raised almost £2,000 - which has a real impact on CiCRA (whose total donations in 2007 were only £200,000 - so every pound really does matter!)

Donating through Justgiving is quick, easy and totally secure. It’s also the most efficient way to sponsor me: Crohn's In Childhood Research Association gets your money faster and, if you’re a UK taxpayer, Justgiving makes sure 25% in Gift Aid, plus a 3% supplement, are added to your donation.

So please sponsor me now!