To celebrate a significant birthday this year, I've decided to raise money for a charity that is very close to my heart.

World In Need is a Christian charity that works in 12 countries in Africa, Asia and the Middle East, changing attitudes through education and development. As well as sponsoring children and families, they support schools in Kenya, Sierra Leone, Uganda and the Philippines, and provide safe and loving homes for children in Bangladesh and India. They also run a Women's Literacy programme in Afghanistan, and a women's co-operative in northern Uganda, as well as many other projects, including building wells so villages have access to clean, safe water.

Photos of some of the work done by World In Need are below.

I'm planning to help them by cycling from my home in Crowborough, East Sussex, to the small medieval town of Loches in the Loire valley.

I'll cycle from Crowborough to Newhaven where I will take the ferry to Dieppe, arriving in France on May 20th. You'll be able to keep up with my progress via Twitter and Facebook.

Please help me with this personal challenge by supporting World In Need.