In 2014 my childhood friend and neighbour Mark Bowra was at the pinnacle of his career. A decorated officer in the UK Special Forces, Mark had been tested in some of the most arduous environments and had always been successful. All this was to change in the space of a few minutes. Mark suffered a major stroke that would lead him to be hospitalised for over a year. To be so fit and active one moment then so reliant on others the next, truly stressed his physical and mental well-being. However Mark, being who he is, took this as another of life’s challenges and with his usual determination set about to help others who may be similarly affected. The result was him, with the help of family and friends, establishing the Bowra Foundation in 2019 to inspire resilience amongst people suffering neurological disorders through practical help and physical challenges. This September I’m part of a team, amazingly including Mark, that is attempting to cycle from Land’s End to John O’Groats in 9 days - an average of 110 miles per day. We’re hoping to raise funds to help Mark and the Bowra Foundation to inspire the unrelenting pursuit of recovery!