On 3rd August, I will be setting out form Lands’ End to cycle all the way to John O’Groats. This trip will take me (a leisurely!) 14 days to complete.

I have decided to raise money for two charities linked with the trust – our own Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health Foundation Trust's Caring Minds charity and the Alzheimer’s Disease Society.

Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust is one of the UK’s largest mental health trusts. Each year over 50,000 people are seen by our services, from not only the Midlands area but also nationally for some of our more specialist services. Many of our patients face incredibly difficult emotional and social pressures, possibly brought about by loss of income and the side effects from drugs. The emotional and physical impacts of their illness can last many years and sometimes a lifetime.

Enhancing a person’s visit to us can make all the difference to their wellbeing, improving recovery and overall experience of our services. We are committed to providing the best possible facilities and environment for our service users, visitors and staff, and with your help we are able to do just that.

Caring Minds, directly raises money for services and equipment for service users and carers. It funds projects within the Trust, so you can rest assured that money raised will be helping to provide the much needed extras that traditional NHS government funding does not provide.

Every donation made to the Caring Minds charity, no matter what size, can make a real impact. We use the money to provide extra comforts in our wards and departments, help towards the purchase of equipment and services and also support our staff with training and research.

Everyone will have a relative or know someone with dementia. The Alzheimer's Disease Society is well known for supporting and championing those with the condition as well as those who care for them.

Please help to support the good work of both charities.