Thanks for visiting my fundraising page. I was 50 earlier this year and, on 22 June 2008, I cycled 'double my age' - on the Great Notts Bike Ride 100 mile route - to raise funds for the charity Auditory Verbal UK (AVUK). 

AVUK has made a tremendous difference to our family and many other families with profoundly deaf children. Find out more about its work at www.avuk.org. It would be great if you are able to make a donation and give a boost to AVUK's fantastic work. 

I set an original target on this page of £500 (adding a nought to my age) but everyone's been so generous that the target has now been upped to £850 - with Gift Aid and some offline donations that should mean we hit the £1,000 mark. I've no idea whether we can reach that but it would be great if you set your sights high. Unlike many other charities, AVUK is a small, young charity and doesn't have the resources to put into fundraising that many others can.

Many thanks to everyone who has sponsored me. I’ve been really bowled over by everyone’s generosity. If you haven't yet donated, then hit the 'sponsor me now' button and let’s see if we can hit the £1k mark which would be really great for AVUK.  I’d love to think we could get to the target – we’re not that far off it. 

As for the ride itself, I don’t think there could have been a worse day for it!  Apart from the fact that it didn’t rain, the conditions were awful – the Met Office had issued a ‘severe weather warning’ with strong winds and gusts up to 75mph for Nottinghamshire!  The wind was behind me for the first 25 miles or so but then, on a diamond-shaped route, it was blowing across and making conditions positively dangerous!  As I went round, I knew I had the pleasure of facing the wind head-on for the last quarter to a half of the course. Being an organised ride, there were a fair few ‘hard core’ riders.  I haven’t yet got the official time and results but I was reasonably pleased with the day.

Those “wishing to see pain” got their wish when, on the 74 mile mark, my left thigh cramped up.  It coincided with the worst winds and my average speed was dropping down to a low of 8mph (earlier on I had been bombing fast and averaging 20-25mph!). Thankfully, the cramp was short-lived and I was able to finish quite strongly.  Indeed, I am now keen to do the same event again but with decent weather (don’t worry, I won’t be asking for sponsorship again – at least, not until I am 60!).

Donating through Justgiving is quick, easy and totally secure. It’s also the most efficient way to sponsor me: Auditory VerbalUK 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.

If you haven't already, please sponsor me now!