On 26th May I will again be joining the amazing bp C2C cyclists, this time taking on an epic 220 mile challenge (over 3 days) to cycle from Gairloch to Aberdeen. I decided that if I'm asking friends and family to sponsor me, then the 220 miles alone won't cut it and I'll need to take on at least one of the "extras"... 

On Day 1 that will be Bealach na Ba which (according to wikipedia) "has the steepest ascent of any road climb in the United Kingdom". Yikes!!

Why? That's a very good question! 

While our boys' arrivals into the world were hugely significant moments for our family they were (in the nicest sense) entirely uneventful. My role at Archie and the work we do has made me acutely aware that not every family is as fortunate.

There are around 5,000 babies born every year in Grampian. About 700 of them need specialist neonatal care. The new Baird Family Hospital will replace Aberdeen's aging maternity hospital and neonatal unit (which I'm reliably informed is the UK's oldest working hospital - and believe me, it shows!). The Archie Foundation aims to raise £2m to "deliver the difference" at the Baird including enhancing the hospital environment to make it more welcoming and homely and funding specialist equipment beyond what the NHS will provide. This fly through film shows what the Baird will look like and I really hope you will feel inspired by what you see (and by my cycling efforts!) to lend your support by sponsoring me. 

Thank you so much :-)