I entered this 100mile bike ride ballot on a bit of a foolish whim - assuming I wouldn't be offered a place on my first attempt, afterall I had received 4 consecutive "rejection magazines' from the London Marathon. I didn't even realise I'd been offered a place at first, having completely forgotten about having entered then, checking through my pile of junk mail stacked up in the kitchen I came across the "Congratulations Magazine!"

"Oh good grief" I thought..."What have I signed up for? Is it 100km or a 100miles? (Please be 100km!)"  Nope - it's a big fat whopping 100miles. My delight at realising I'd won a ballot place was shadowed by the fact that I'd never cycled more than about 25 miles before and that was over the course of a day at a leisurely pace with picnic/pub stops on route. What the hell have I agreed to do? Why on earth would I put myself through it? But I got out on my bike - a lovely Specialized road bike I got for my birthday a few years ago and had hardly ever used-and just started cycling. Slowly and cautiously at first, especially going down hill but I've steadily built up my downhill courage and my stamina over distance. Over the last few months I've learned to love cycling - so much more fun than running, getting places quickly, sometimes feeling like I'm flying along the road. (Until some serious cyclists whizz by me while I'm hammering it and they're just cruising!) I've done a couple of sportives and learned that if you manage to cycle behind others you go a lot faster with a lot less effort. No guesses what my strategy for the RideLondon100 is!

So here I am with just over a week to go and I finally get round to sharing my Just Giving Page. I've probably left it so late because I've not been entirely convinced I would make it to the start....it's 100 MILES!!! But I know for sure now that I will be there. I'm not going to win it. I won't be setting the roads ablaze with the speed of my wheels, but I will be there, taking part and taking part for approximately 7 hours.  That's 7 hours on a razor thin saddle for 100 MILES!!! I discovered a few weeks ago that Surrey is also MUCH hillier than Essex where I've been training and the famous Box Hill is included as part of the route...I'll be fine, don't worry...what goes up must come down surely?

So now I'll cut to the chase and tell you why I'd love to you sponsor me to support Clic Sargent. I work with Georgia's Teenage Cancer Appeal (www.gtca.info) to raise money for Clic Sargent to pay for a part time member of their Social Care team. We have committed to raising £25,700 a year for the next 3 years. In doing this we have ensured that children and young adults with cancer in the South Essex area will have the opportunity to have social care at home as well as when they're in hospital. The children and their familes will get to know their Clic Sargent team member from the time of diagnosis, through treatment and, if necessary, following bereavement. It's a scary journey, going through cancer with a child and a Clic Sargent social worker provides a hugely important link between the doctors & the rest of the medical team to the children & their families. My daughter's best friend Georgia died of cancer 3 years ago aged just 14 and the home care support was sadly lacking during her last week at home with her family. This shouldn't happen again to families in the South Essex area with the support we're providing with Clic Sargent. It's a touching legacy to Georgia, a beautiful brave young girl.

I'm really happy to be working with Georgia's Teenage Cancer Appeal to support Clic Sargent over the next 3 years and doing RideLondon as part of their team will make me very proud no matter how long it takes me! So if you can spare a few quid to cheer me on and support the cause I will be immensly grateful.

x Kirsty

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