I know it's that time of year when people start asking for donations to various charities for various athletic exertions but I've decided to get in on the act again -- and this one is no mean feat. On Saturday 14 June I will be cycling up the first (Alpe d'Huez) of many of the world's largest (and toughest) mountains as I ride from Grenoble to Cannes in an effort to raise as much money as I can for Leuka, a charity that supports research into the causes and treatment for Leukemia. You can find out more about Leuka at they're website: http://www.leuka.org.uk/ Many of you were extremely generous in sponsoring me 2 years ago when I last did this ride, helping me to raise a massive £2500 in total! Last year I was unable to take part because Pusia and I were expecting Louis and Casper's imminent arrival but now I'm back and raring to go. Seeing as I don't get so much sleep anymore it seems a lot easier to get up at 5 in the morning and ride out in the cold and the wet into the Sussex/Surrey countryside for a few hours before work or on a Sunday morning. Anyway, this year I have slightly personal reasons for wanting to get involved in this event in particular and for which I have a really, really strong sense of purpose to raise as much money as possible towards Leukemia research. I have been unable to find corporate sponsorship this year and, as I'm sure you know, the business that I'm in doesn't lend itself too well to hampering my own clients for the money so I'm coming back to the great and the good -- you guys! *sorry* When you sponsored me before I 'sold' mountain summits to you which was great as I had friends' names 'attached' as it were to each of the 2-3 hour climbs. This time though you're more than welcome to nominate a mountain (for £50) if you want but essentially I'm just appealing to you for absolutely anything that you can donate because it's all a huge help... Lots of love, Ben