One of the best things about my job is working with amazing charity partners and getting to see the impact of their work at first hand. It's a challenging time for young people at the moment and I'm really proud to be working with the brilliant team and young people at Barnardo's.

Every time I meet the young people who are shaping and taking part in the partnership I'm blown away by their ideas, enthusiasm, resilience, honesty and support for each other.

That's why I'm setting off to cycle from Land's End on 24th May (after quite a lot more training!), and hopefully rolling into John O'Groats 12 days and 1,000 miles later.

I've been thinking about doing this ride for a few years... and it feels like now or never before the knees get too creaky. I'll be joined from the beginning and at various points along the way by a motley crew of similarly ageing cyclists. We're all slightly nervous about what we're getting ourselves into, but also excited to be hitting the open road.

Any contributions to help hit my fundraising target very gratefully received. Thank you!

UPDATE: Made it!! All good despite the heatwaves, mechanicals, Scottish rain and saddle soreness! Hard work but brilliant fun. Thank you for all the donations :)) And thanks especially to motley crew of cycling pals!