This is not my first project which marries music and endurance activities. In 2012, I coined myself the 'Olympianist', cycling 1200 miles from Land's End to John O'Groats for charity (the entire length of the UK, then some) giving a piano recital at the end of each day. In 2017, I cycled overnight from London to Birmingham and performed Ravel's Gaspard de la Nuit on arrival - at 6.45am!

This current challenge is less about the physical hardships of long-distance cycling than enduring the indignity and ridicule of cycling 180 miles dressed as a TOILET! 'Why', I hear you ask?! I am a visiting professor at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, whose Viola department have teamed up with teachers at Birmingham School of Acting to perform Paul Hindemith's 'Viola Mania'. In short, the toilet plays a strong role in the play, and it is being hand - and foot - delivered, by myself!

I'll be riding to the International Viola Congress, from Birmingham to Rotterdam (Brotterdam), on my touring bicycle, accompanied by elite athlete - and former Royal Birmingham Conservatoire viola student -Alistair Rutherford, who'll dress as a viola. Alistair holds the Guinness World Record for the longest distance running as a musical instrument - AKA 'the running viola', and takes to the bike for the first time in this musical costume. I will be performing at the IVC alongside other delegates and viola students from Royal Birmingham Conservatoire.

We are raising money for ARCO's Video-conferencing room in Soweto, South Africa, which is in need of a technological improvement! We are asking to donate 10 pence per mile which will equal roughly £20! If 50 people donate this we will hit our target. 

Planned route: 

Sunday 18th November: Birmingham - Cambridge (100 miles)

(leave from Royal Birmingham Conservatoire at dawn)

Monday 19th November: Cambridge - Harwich (60 miles)

Night Ferry from Harwich to Hook of Holland.

Tuesday 20th Hook of Holland - Rotterdam (20 miles)