Today Ben Smith should be on Dartmoor with my son undertaking his Silver Duke of Edinburgh expedition having enjoyed his Prom this Monday and looking forward to his GCSE results this August. Tragically at half term, Ben went for a jog at home taking a break from revision, he collapsed and died. A few weeks later, I still cannot contemplate how his mum Caroline, who is now on her own, will ever come to terms with the loss.

I have agreed with another of Ben's friends' dads, Adrian, to undertake a truly stupid challenge in two weekends time (14-18 July 2017). We are planning to ride the Raid Pyrenees route from the Altantic to Med over the Pyrenees in five days - totally unsupported - just a saddle bag. In numbers it will be some 900 kms airport to airport, 13,000 m/42,500 ft of climbing over no less than 18 Cols.

I want to raise as much money as possible for Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY); I must do something to acknowledge this tragic event.

As always all my costs are paid by me - 100 % of what I raise will go to charity.