Even though, as the picture demonstrates, I sometimes have trouble working out which way up bicycles need to be, I do enjoy riding them. So it does seem cheeky to ask you for money to encourage me to ride more. However, Manchester to London is around 220 miles and that's way further than I've pedalled before. But more importantly your donations will be supporting a great organisation: Ambitious About Autism.

The ride sets off from Manchester at dawn and includes over 4000m of climbing on the roads of the Peak district and later the Chilterns. In order to make the cut-offs I'll need to maintain an average speed over 14mph – not hard on the flat but A LOT HARDER on those hills. If I arrive in London by 10pm I’ll be pleased. That is an understatement, obviously.

Ambitious about Autism is a charity formed by parents who first set up a school, then a college for children and young people with autism – in addition, they campaign to influence policy and increase understanding of the issues that young people with autism encounter. Their mission is to “make the ordinary possible”.