Rosie’s Rainbow Fund recognises the physical, emotional & spiritual impact a child's serious or life-limiting illness or disability has on a child as well as the family unit. We offer a multi-pronged approach to supporting children & families through every phase of coping with serious illness & disability in hospital, schools, & the community. We provide music therapy to children in hospital, pastoral care & therapeutic massage for parent carers, special-needs music classes in schools, & bereavement counselling to parents who have lost a child.

So, about the challenge. My son Thomas and I will be cycling the Kennet and Avon Cycle Route, 100 miles from Bristol to Reading. This will be a huge achievement for Thomas who is only 8, and in year 3 at Claires Court Junior Boys School in Maidenenhead. We intend to take three days to complete the route and weather dependent will be undertaking the ride during the May half term holiday. We will get the train from Maidenhead to Bristol on day 1, and finish at Reading Station after two overnight stops on day 3.

A bit about the route: The Kennet & Avon Cycle Route is Britain's most popular long-distance waterside cycle route. The first sectionwill take us through historic Bristol and Bath, past the stunning aqueducts at Dundas and Avoncliff, to the dramatic Caen Hill Locks at Devizes. 

The canal itself starts at Bath, however, there is no direct cycle route along the River Avon from Bristol to Bath. Between these two cities we will follow the Bristol to Bath railway. This attractive route through the Avon Valley was a pioneering traffic-free cycle path and set the standard for the National Cycle Network.

After Bath, cycling is permitted throughout the length of the canal, except for a few short sections near Reading. Long sections of the tow path-including the whole length from Bath to Devizes, around Newbury and between Thatcham and Reading have been improved as part of a partnership between British Waterways, Sustrans and local councils. The result is a wider path with a surface that is more suitable for cyclists and disabled users.