I am cycling from John o Groats to lands end, raising money for PucksPromise.

Jo, Matt and Puck's story can be found in full at: www.puckspromise.com

The following is an excerpt from their website explaining the motivation for their project.

"On 15th March 2017, Jo gave birth to our beautiful first-born son, Puck, at 40 weeks +9 days after an uncomplicated dream pregnancy. Due to complications during labour, Puck was born via emergency c-section and needed to be resuscitated. He was transferred to University Hospital Southampton Neo-Natal Unit but tragically died in our arms early the following morning. Whilst we are still awaiting answers as to what unfurled on that day, we feel strongly that something good must come out of this utterly devastating event that has changed our lives forever. As avid lovers of nature, we were so looking forward to sharing our passion for outdoor adventure and wildlife with our son and had made so many exciting plans. Now that this opportunity has been so cruelly stolen from us, we are adamant that Puck’s spirit will live on in the natural beauty that is all around us and we find great comfort in this belief.

Purchasing a woodland in memory of Puck will not only help with the long grieving process that lies ahead of our family, but will also offer a playground for other families who have experienced similar tragedy. It is our hope that we will be able to offer a special place for families and the amazing nurses at Southampton Neo-Natal Unit to visit and seek solace. We intend to offer the woodland to families & nurses to come and use at their leisure, whether it be to sit and contemplate, go for a beautiful walk or to come and camp for the weekend with other families with this shared experience."

I met Jo a few years ago, on a nature connection course. Our friendship was propelled into a close and really supportive place in a matter of days. When Jo became pregnant, she shared her happy news with me and the others on our course, I have felt so close to Jo and Puck since that time. Since Puck's death, I have wanted, as many do, to help Jo in some way, to take away her pain, to shield her. I met Matt last year at their wedding, what a privilege to be part of their beautiful day, their are one incredible couple, love is abundant, their support for each other is phenominel and their support network of truly lovely family and friends is beautiful to behold.

Puck's death has left them with so much over-flowing grief and love. Both of which can be met and absorbed in abundance out in the natural world. Being out in nature is beyond my words just now, but I know there is a quality that moves and changes things, that brings a different perspective, a feeling of just being.

www.puckspromise.com is a truly inspiring project, one that I am proud to support. A memorial space that can not only give Jo, Matt and their families a special place to heal in and be a part off, something beautiful and meaningful in Pucks absence, but also a really truly life changing gift for so many others, a place for people to be held and rejuvenated through connection with others and the natural world.

I know myself how important being in nature is, I have really began to recognise how much it has benefitted me and how well I have felt being out in nature. I feel like Puck will always be with me when I am out in the wild woods, when I feel the Spring breeze and and when I glimpse first gentle petals of the cherry blossom. It is so very important to me to find every way possible to help Jo and Matt fulfil this promise they have made to Puck.

I want to help them to achieve their goal. I want to be a part of keeping Puck's sweet spirit alive. I want to be a part of the great landscape of this fare Isle and doing so with Jo, Matt and Puck in mind.

And I will, by cycling from John O Groats to Lands End. I will head off on my trip by train to London on the 20th of August, over night to Inverness, a swift train to Thurso and mini ride to John o Groats. On the 22nd of August I set sail, I will climb many hills and creep slowly down them (I prefer up hill), I will rest each night in a comfy bed and hope that I will be warm and safe, until I reach Lands very End on the 4th of September 2018. It is going to be long and tough and a good old challenge. There will be sore legs and aching hands (keeping your brakes on the way I do is not hand or break block friendly) and sooo many odd tan lines. It is a trip I have wanted to do for a long time, I am finally doing it and I am more than excited to be doing it now and with such a promise to help uphold. www.puckspromise.com You can also donate through the website on paypal if you prefer to use that.

Please share this page far and wide. Thanks

For You and for Me and for Jo, Matt and Puck. a blessing I will be singing at the top of my voice for much of the time.

Warm be the Sun that shines upon you,

Soft be the winds as they breath on you

Smooth be the roads that rise before you

Keep you in peace till we meet again.

May you have shelter in storm to hide you,

May you have stars in the night to guide you,

May you have ever a friend beside you,

Keep you in peace till we meet again.

May you not lack for good bread to feed you,

May you not lack for good hope to speed you,

And for your singing a heart to heed you,

Keep you in peace till we meet again.