I cycle almost everyday in London so why do a bike ride for charity?

I've been commuting by bike for a year almost everyday with varying distances from 14-26 miles a day. However, on 23rd April I had a minor road accident on Regent St during rush hour involving a taxi and a police car. I didn't have any major damage just cuts, bruises, grazes and concussion and although no one is to blame for the accident, it's really knocked my confidence about cycling. I came off over winter on a patch of ice while cornering and the week of this accident I had just got back to normal with taking corners normally. I don't want it to take me another 5 months to get back to full confidence again. So I thought the best way was to take up the challenge I had wanted to do for a while so I HAVE to train and keep cycling.

I've chosen to do a sportive organised for East Kent Hospitals charity because I grew up in east Kent and my mum works for an east Kent hospital so it's close to home. East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust is one of the largest hospital trusts in England, with five hospitals serving a local population of around 759,000 people. Their motto is 'putting patients first' and they have an international reputation for delivering high quality specialist care - particularly in cancer, kidney disease, stroke and vascular services. 

By raising funds for the East Kent Health Charity, you’ll be helping them with a variety of projects, including the purchase of new digital breast screening machines - which allow early and small cancers to be detected and so treatment started sooner, leading to increased recovery rates - and the purchase of a Neonatel Intensive Care Cot to help save the lives of dangerously premature babies. 

And to all you cyclists donating... wear a helmet. It saved me from any brain damage since I landed on my forehead. 

 

See the details of the ride here: http://www.bike-events.com/Ride.aspx?id=381