'Wrynose or Bust' is an event of my own creation, and my own personal challenge. It's a 100-mile cycle ride round the southern Lake District, including an excruciating haul to the top of the Wrynose Pass. Not much for a decent club cyclist, but I'm overweight, underfit and I hit 60 next year. And I'm not a decent club cyclist.

I'm doing this in part to raise money for the Dystonia Society. It's an easy choice. My wife suffers from a neurological disorder called blepharospasm, or 
dystonia - involuntary spasm - of the muscles around the eyes. The only treatments are the injection of botox toxins into the muscles every three months or so, or operation directly on the eye muscles. Neither is a total cure. No one knows why this condition affects some people or what starts it off.

By sponsoring me I hope we'll be able to help other people with the condition, and maybe to take steps toward working it out and, who knows, eradicating it. Thanks for your support.