If attempting to use my bandy little legs to run for my charity was not enough, I have set myself a brand new target, and this year I am attempting to cycle from our cosmopolitan capital (well, Crystal Palace) to Paris, and the Eiffel Tower. Along the way as we cycle through the suburbs of the romantic capital I will get to soak up some of the Parisian way of life, who knows it may even help sophisticate me!   However, this little jaunt on my old two wheeled speed machine is no sedate cycle, this is 300 miles, almost 500km in just four days. 

Day 1 = 95 miles (London to Calais - Our challenge begins bright and early from Crystal Palace heading south en route to the coast.)

Day 2 = 75 miles (Calais to Abbeville - La belle France! Stunning picturesque countryside awaits us in northern France as we travel south.)

Day 3 = 70 miles (Abbeville to Beauvais - The route this morning follows the river Somme out of Abbeville.)

Day 4 = 60 miles (Beauvais to Paris – The final day of the cycling and the big push to Paris, the final destination.)

And if this madness is not enough, I am using this as a training exercise for the biggest challenge ahead, which is the 26.2 miles of the London Marathon in 2013!    So, why am I putting myself through this madness when I am not at all fit, I have a belly that makes me look pregnant, and the dodgiest of broken knees?     Simples… because I want to do what I can to raise more awareness about the serious impact that Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) can have, something I have suffered with since a child, in addition the challenge will also of course raise much needed funding for OCD-UK, the charity I co-founded with my good buddy Steve back in 2004. 

You can follow my training here: http://www.endomondo.com/workouts/58229041

Because of the misconceptions and trivialisation of the illness in the popular media OCD the illness receives very little coverage and OCD-UK receives very little support outside of the OCD community. Because of these misconceptions about OCD there remains little public awareness about the debilitating and devastating impact the illness can cause, sometimes with sad and tragic consequences.  I hope by participation in this event at some point along my training, fundraising and cycling journey I can help just one person understand OCD better, and if the funds I raise help me and the charity support just one other person with OCD reclaim their life back from OCD then my sweat and tears will be worth it.

My entire adult life has been dominated by OCD, and without a shadow of a doubt as impacted on me, my ability to have relationships for all of my teens and 20s, and at times as prevented me leading a full and fulfilling life, my quality of life was diminished because of the OCD.

I won't say OCD as totally ruined my life, but I will say that OCD as done its bloody best to try and ruin my life!

I am now fighting back, and whilst the OCD is still with me, it will no longer stop me attempting challenges like this.  The challenge will perhaps be more of a challenge for me more so than others on the cycling trek because not only will I be battling the physical challenge, I will also be battling the mental challenge from the fear of contamination that I will face from using perhaps questionable public toilet facilities between accommodation stops. 

With most of these overseas treks that you are no doubt inundated with sponsorship requests from your friends, about 50% of the money goes towards the cost of the trip. However with my challenge I am using my own holiday money to pay for the cost of the trip, so 100% of your donation will come to OCD-UK and be used for the good cause.

I have already started my training by kicking my 2-litre a day coke habit…. No joke!!!! I was drinking 2-literes a day since I was 16, I was addicted as those that know me will testify, but now nearly three weeks of sobriety from that black liquid gold.   I am also down from ‘several’ to one small chocolate bar a day, and I have started eating fruit!  Woo hooo, listen to me… who knew peach was so nice!

So I would really value your support, perhaps by sending me a good luck message, or even joining me in Crystal Palace to wave me off, or if you fancy a weekend away in Paris be there to cheer me at the finish line but most importantly I would value your sponsorship for OCD-UK.  I know you get asked to sponsor lots of people for lots of worthy causes, but because OCD-UK gets so little support, your donation would mean so much to us.

And it would be even nicer if someone fancied joining me for the challenge!

Don’t worry, if you do sponsor me for this, I won’t expect you to sponsor me again for the London Marathon next year… I might ask, but I won’t expect ;)   If anyone would like to ask me about my challenge, or why I am doing this or just wants a bit more information about OCD then shoot me an email ashley@ocduk.org

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.