Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

It's been a couple of years since I last did something slightly unpleasant on my bike for charity. This time, it's what my former pro cyclist partner described as "the hardest day I''ve ever had on the bike". So it should be a fun day out for me then. 

It's the Fred Whitton. 112 miles and over 4000metres of ascent in the Lake District. At mile 100 it takes us up and over Hardknott Pass which has extended sections of 33%. Less a road, more a ski run. 

2018 was a hard year for me, losing a second parent, time off work, time off the bike, time not exactly looking after myself. I'm starting almost from scratch and I've got a little under 4 months to get myself ready. 

Why? Well, in my professional life I represent a lot of bereaved families at inquests. All too often their loved ones have died because the state failed them. Then they have the indignity of facing a further fight for answers in the face (often) of stonewalling from the state, which has lawyered up at the earliest opportunity. Families aren't even guaranteed the same right to legal representation. INQUEST provides support and assistance to those families. They also campaign to end the systemic failures and injustices that too often befall the most vulnerable in society. You can find out more about their work here: https://www.inquest.org.uk 

But to do that, they need money. So why not sponsor me to ride up very steep things (there will be tears and probably a bit of swearing) over a very long distance? What could possibly go wrong?