I have decided that as the big three 0 is fast approaching, I need to get some of the travelling bug out of my system, and this seemed like a fantastic way to see a part of the world I've been itching to get to, in a way that's pretty unique (though despite the web address, I actually will be using a simple mountain bike to get around - but don't let that stop you donating!), plus I can raise funds for an amazing place & *fingers crossed* also get fit before I'm 30!! Jobs a good 'un!!

I'm sure you're all aware that the most important part of this expedition (cycle ride just doesn't do the full 500km I'm going to have to haul my fat a$$ round justice, I don't think - for more detail about exactly what I will be doing please look here: http://www.charitychallenge.com/pdf/Sgn_to_AW_Itinerary_2007.pdf ) are the funds I raise for a great cause. So please be as generous as you can. I have paid for the cost of the trip myself - so all the sponsorship I receive goes directly to the hospice. They are a voluntary organisation, and receive no government funding - hence you really will be helping people and families at a time when they do really need it - as I know from experience...

Ok, now brace yourself for my sob-story...I would like you all to be uber-generous you see!! As many of you will know, my dad & mum both died shortly after I graduated from Uni in 2002. Dad, I believe, was so shocked at me finally graduating (I did take 5 years in Manchester to complete a 3 year degree course - I contend that it is a woman's prerogative to change her mind!!) that he died of heart attack, just 5 days after my graduation ceremony, and at the rather young age of 61. Both mum and I were understandably pretty devastated. Though we were getting on with life and getting ourselves back on track when mum was diagnosed with terminal cancer, after being admitted to hospital in January 2003 with what looked like a stroke. I looked after mum at home for 3 months, before it became necessary for her to have 24 hour nursing care, due to the symptoms caused by the tumour spreading from her lungs to her brain and liver, which I just couldn't provide. This is where St Leonard's Hospice came in to my life and I have to say that the place and people who work there are incredible. Mum was not a happy bunny to say the least at being admitted to a hospice, and we had some heated times. However after a few days, it was obvious that the staff really cared about making patients feel as comfortable as possible and they really enabled mum and me to have some fun again - wheeling her around in her Ferrari (yes, she had a posh wheelchair in there!) at all hours of the night, singing songs from yesteryear (not me, the nurses!), and encouraging her to join in with all manner of activities that she would never had the chance to do at home. They allowed me to buy a bird feeder, as both mum & dad loved watching the birds in our garden, and put it next to mum's window, and also let me stay on the sofa bed any night I wanted to, which I was particularly grateful for as I was determined to be with her to the end.

I hope that detail hasn't disturbed anyone reading it - and if so, I am sorry, it was/is my intention to try and put across just how amazing the hospice is as a place for patients coming to terms with their illnesses, and as a support for those families with terminally ill family members. I was helped initially when mum passed away by a couple of fabulous people who worked within the counselling team there, and received follow-up letters every once in a while to check I was ok - which is above and beyond the call of duty in my book. Also, I have had the pleasure of organising  for a number of friends to attend the charity walk in the summer 2003, shortly after mum passed away - which raised over £1,000 in total - so thanks to all of you who did that, and who are reading this. I also completed the hideously painful and hilly yet masochistically fun Great North Run last year for them - thanks again for the cash! And in preparation for this bike ride (which is over 500km in 10 days of which 2 are rest days...aaargh), I am also completing both that half marathon again (glutton for punishment), intending to get a better time, hoping that doing the inaugural Yorkshire 10km in early September around Sheffield's less than flat streets (how is a girl in the Vale of York supposed to prepare for such hilly climbs I ask you) will help in my quest!

And now I ask you to be as generous as you can - no deep pockets and short arms please - in aid of a great cause...and to motivate me to keep training and undertake the most regular exercise I have done since PE at school...(nearly half my life ago)...

So it leaves me to thank you for visiting my fundraising page. Please do find the time and money to sponsor me online. As it promises in the blurb, donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to sponsor me: St Leonard's Hospice, York , will receive your money faster and, if you are a UK taxpayer, an extra 28% in tax will be added to your gift at no cost to you. So please sponsor me now & please feel free to forward this to anyone that knows me, or even those who don't but may feel the need to give generously to a good cause!

Many thanks for your support. And for reading my screeds of text! I will be taking plenty of pictures and uploading them to a website whilst I am on my SE Asian adventure. Well that is provided I can get the knack of all the technicalities needed to perform such wizardry & also provided I don't lose my camera/memory card/marbles whilst I'm there...

Thanks everyone! xxxxx