Oh nooo... not another www.Justgiving request!    I'm afraid so, here goes...

Lords & Ladies,

In a month's time I will be taking part in The FireFlies 2008.

What the heck is that?

It's a 1000 km bike race over the alps. In 8 punishing days we will climb a total of 50,000 feet.

Taking part are 50 riders all raising cash for the awesome charity Leuka, which funds research for Leukaemia.

What's Leukaemia exactly?

Shorty version: A nasty cancer that you don't wanna get. Screws with your bone marrow. If you did get it tho' you'd definitely want some clever scientist dudes to know what to do to help you out!!

Slightly longer Version: Leukaemia is the name for a number of cancers of the white blood cells ; the cells that fight infection in the body. Some of the white blood cells don't grow properly. They stay in the bone marrow and keep reproducing in an uncontrolled way. These abnormal white blood cells fill up the bone marrow and prevent it from making healthy white blood cells. This means the body is less able to fight off infections, causing anaemia, severe bleeding (because normal blood clotting doesn't happen) and bruising.

Leukaemia affects about 7000 adults and children each year. There is plenty that is now known about the disease thanks to research to date, but the exact cause of leukaemia is still not known...

I'm trying to raise a lycra-clad two grand towards their research. It's a fantastic cause and I hope you can help me help them.

Thanks for taking time to check this link out.

Zak