For the latest instalment of my mid life crisis I've decided, along with a few friends, to cycle from John O' Groats to Land's End this summer.  We'll be cycling 100 miles a day for 10 days.  In theory, we're doing it the wrong way round, into the prevailing winds and sun, but the attraction of ending up in Cornwall has outweighed the prospect of a long journey home, exhausted and aching, from the top of Scotland.

I'm very conscious that we all receive many fundraising requests these days, so have decided this will be my last charity appeal.  I do, however, feel that I'm doing this one for a very special cause...

My cousin's daughter, Emma (in the pic) has a very rare kidney disease called FSGS.  She's 13 but can't enjoy being a normal teenager.  She has already been very ill and her kidneys will eventually stop working.  As there is at present no cure for Emma's condition, she will at some stage need to spend the rest of her life reliant upon a dialysis machine for many hours nearly every day.  A kidney transplant may not work as FSGS can attack the transplanted kidneys.

NesT, or the Nephrotic Syndrome Trust, are working with Kidney Research to find a cure.

Emma has been amazingly positive and has raised £20,000 herself for NesT.  (Have a look at her page at www.justgiving.com/emma-kidney-cope)

I'm sure all donations here will help me to dig that bit deeper when I'm battling up the hills, into the wind, sore, tired and inevitably lost this summer.

Many thanks,

DJ.