On August 29th I will set off to ride 1200 miles from Lands End to John o' Groats on the national cycle network with my friend Dr Ricky Allen. My wife Sue is kindly acting as our support driver. 

I am doing this to raise money for the Canterbury Cathedral Scholarship Programme-part of the Canterbury Voice Campaign. 

I was very fortunate to be a Chorister at Canterbury from 1970-1976 spending the first two years being educated at the Choir School and subsequently after it's closure in 1972 at St Edmunds School. 

Life as a Chorister gives you an unrivalled musical education but also training in so many other areas-teamwork, organisation, concentration and self sufficiency. Although I didn't pursue a career in music the experience has had a hugely beneficial impact on the rest of my life. 

The cost of a Choristers education is approximately £27,000. The Cathedral currently fund around a two thirds of this sum, but the Chorister's family usually have to fund the remaining £9000. 

In 2020 Canterbury Cathedral will mark 600 years of a permanent Boys choir. The Canterbury Voice will celebrate this anniversary by establishing a robust choral scholarship programme. By creating a Cathedral Choir Endowment fund, Canterbury Cathedral will ensure that talented boys, regardless of means, can become Canterbury Choristers-a truly life-changing opportunity. 

Please support me as I struggle up the hills of England and Scotland by donating to the Scholarship programme.