In September 2024, myself and three friends are cycling an unsupported zig-zag 1300 mile route from Lands End to Kirkwall in Orkney via John O’Groats. This is the 20th anniversary of our first ride from Lands End to John O’Groats, and the 10th anniversary of a previous ride in the opposite direction. Every 10 years the ride seems to get much harder! I guess with a combined age of 245 years we shouldn’t be surprised. Let’s hope we make it! Training has been a real challenge for me this time because of a back injury.

We are all doing the ride for different causes. Teens In Crisis is the Gloucestershire based children and young persons mental health charity which I have had the privilege of chairing for the last three and a half years, and which is very dear to my heart, especially following the loss of a very close friend’s son.

I’m also seeking sponsorship for Children Achieving Lifelong Movement (CALM), which provides physical therapy for children with conditions such as childhood strokes, cerebral palsy and idiopathic arthritis