My brother, Jamie, first discussed cycling LEJOG with me in 2013 with the plan to cycle it in 2014, but we decided up-coming commitments would make it difficult and we put it on ice. On 3rd May 2014, we realised we may have a window of time in June and the plan was re-born ...

We are now leaving Lands End on Monday 23rd June with the aim to complete a 980 mile route, that includes over 45,000 vertical feet of climb, in 9 days. Dad (Ian) will manage the command centre, trailing his caravan all the way to John O'Groats (and 800 miles back) leap frogging us each day to set up camp at various campsites en route. This has given us 7 weeks to train and prepare!

Honestly, this is a personal challenge that Jamie and I want to complete for ourselves. But, whilst raising money is not our motivating factor, we have been approached by many people during planning and preparation who have asked which charity we would be riding for, as they would very much like to support. We have realised it would be a shame not to use the opportunity to help raise funds and awareness for a charity.

Last September I took part in the inaugural Tour de Test Valley, this was a 100 mile cycle event organised by the family of Nelson Pratt following his sad death in 2012. The ride was in aid of the charity CALM, the Campaign Against Living Miserably, who are dedicated to preventing male suicide, which is now the single biggest cause of death in men aged 20-47. Jamie and I have decided that we would like to support this charity because of its values, because of the people that we know that they have helped and because of their interest and established links to cycling events.

If you feel you would like to donate to CALM, please please do. However, we will be just as happy to see this link forwarded to friends and family to simply spread the word of CALM and what they exist for.

www.thecalmzone.net

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity.