So, I'm doing something slightly mad... 

I've set myself a goal of riding 17,000 kilometres in 2021 - that's roughly the distance from my home in Yass, Australia, to Selhurst Park - home of the famous red and blue, Crystal Palace.

This is no small feat for me. The furthest I've ever ridden in a year is 10,000 kilometres. It means a gruelling 340 kilometres a week. It's also no mean feat to me because I'm old, overweight, underfit, and think that sweets are one of the essential food groups.

I'm doing this because I want to raise whatever I can to support the great work of The Palace for Life Foundation. And any support you can give will go straight to them to help them in the outstanding work they do in the community.

I'm also doing this because I'd normally go back to London for Christmas to watch Crystal Palace play (and see my mum, of course, just in case she's reading this). But COVID means I didn't get there last year, and probably won't this year. So instead, I'm doing the next best thing - taking a virtual cycle all the way from my home to Selhurst Park.

I'll be posting regular updates so you can see how I'm going. Will I make it? Will I get lost somewhere in the (virtual) middle east? Will my ageing knees give out? Keep checking back for updates.

I'll be doing most of my virtual kilometres on Zwift. Find and follow me on there as Martyn Pearce - riding 17,000km for Palace for Life Foundation in 2021. Give me a ride on or join me on the virtual roads. I'm also on Strava as Martyn Pearce (that's me with the glass of whisky and cigar) and I'll be updating on Twitter - @theshepherdsdog

The Palace for Life Foundation has been working with the south London community for over 25 years. Existing to leverage the power of football and the Crystal Palace FC brand to change the lives of young people across south London, particularly the most hard-to-reach and hard-to-help. The Foundation works with over 13,000 people each year, inspiring them to find a better path and to lead a healthier life.