On February 16 myself and fellow cyclist Terry Wooller will be beginning a gruelling 3,100 mile ride from St Augustine in Florida to San Diego in California. The Southern Tier route, from the Atlantic Coast to the Pacific, will take more than two months to complete and cross forests, mountains and deserts. The RNLI's campaign aims to raise at least £40,000 to fund community-led day care centres in Bangladesh and protect thousands of children from the everyday risks of drowning.

The challenge, which we have funded entirely ourselves, will take us through Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California. With each pedal turn we are hoping to raise vital funds to help stop children drowning in Bangladesh. Forty children drown everyday in the country - the leading killer of 1-4 year olds.

The money you give will be going to an RNLI backed appeal which is directly saving lives. Many of the children accidentally drown by falling into village ponds,  but by helping set up crèches these children can be looked after safely, allowing their parents to work and complete household chores. A donation of just £30 could fund a child`s place in a community-led creche for a whole year. Access to a free place reduces a child`s risk of drowning by an incredible 82%, as well as providing essential early childhood development opportunities and the opportunity for women to earn an income.

With training and support provided by local partners, the creche model can be easily scaled up and managed by local people in their own community. What's more, from 4 February to 30 April (at just the time we are cycling across the United States), all public donations to the appeal will be doubled pound for pound by the UK Government. So every pound you give will be doubled! Bangladesh`s existing crèches cannot meet the need for young children to be kept safe and supervised, leaving thousands of under-fives at risk of drowning.

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