Dear friends,

Thank you for reading.

We'll keep this as simple as possible. Meg Bradford is the daughter of the UK Operations Director for Beds and Bars (my boss). She suffers from an incredibly rare disease called Friedreich's ataxia.

What is Friedreich's ataxia i hear you ask? In short:

- It's an autosomal recessive inherited disease that causes progressive damage to the nervous system
- It can lead to scoliosis, heart disease and diabetes
- The disease is progressive, and ultimately a wheelchair is required for mobility
- It affects an incredibly small number of people, 1 in 100,000 in the UK (you have more chance of being injured in a toilet - 1 in 10,000 or being in a plane crash - 1 in 9,737)

Within a year Meg will need fully aided living and a fully automated wheelchair. It's rubbish, it's upsetting and it's life-changing.

So what are we doing? A group of caring colleagues (many of whom incredibly unfit - i include myself in this bracket) have accepted the challenge of cycling from London to Paris. It's roughly 300 miles.

A dozen doughy, spandex clad hospitality workers wheezing their way to 'La France' will be difficult (and at points bordering on hilarious). But it pales in comparison to the challenges that Meg will face in the coming years.

I believe in the compassion of others. I certainly believe in the empathy and incredible nature of my friends and family.

So in closing, dig deep and donate! The next time we meet you'll receive thanks in the form of a hug and a drink.