In a couple of week's time I'm taking 10 days to walk across England with a good friend of mine, the unstoppable Eddie Rawling.  Starting in St.Bees on the Cumbrian coast and ending up in Robin Hood's Bay on the Yorkshire coast, the walk will encompass 192 miles of gruelling trekking through some of the most beautiful and rugged countryside in England.

Traversing the Lake District, Yorkshire Dales and North Yorkshire Moors the route incorporates a terrific number of hills and is ordinarily walked by those in distinctly better physical shape than myself.  Nevertheless, I'm stepping up the training and have decided to approach the walk with an entirely ill-deserved sense of confidence and a flagrant disregard for the apparent need for expensive walking equipment and long-distance trekking experience.  A couple of full inhalers and some blister plasters should be all I need.  Wish me luck.

As I walk I'm hoping to raise money for a charity close to my heart called Scoo-B-Doo.  Scoo-B-Doo raises money for the Special Babycare Unit at Gloucestershire Hospital - money which is spent on equipment to help save the lives of babies in special need, including those born prematurely.  Scoo-B-Doo also provides on-site accommodation and welfare services to support parents during exceptionally difficult times.  The charity provides magnificent support and is one that has sadly touched our family personally.

Many thanks for your sponsorship,

Mike.