On 7 June, I will be attempting the Fred Whitton Challenge, considered the "Daddy" of cycling sportives in the UK. The ride includes all the Lakeland passes, covering 114-miles with approximately 4,000m of climbing (nearly half of Everest...).

As it is my first cycling sportive, I am selfishly raising money for the Great North Air Ambulance Service, given the high likelihood that I will need their services on the day. In all seriousness, see below for how much of a great cause this is.

The Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS) rescues hundreds of severely injured or ill patients every year throughout the North East, North Yorkshire and Cumbria. Their doctor-led critical care teams deliver life-saving treatments at the scene of the incident whether that is on a fell top, a roadside or in a city centre. The charity responded to 1,640 call outs last year* alone, via their helicopter and emergency response vehicles, where they performed treatments and procedures which can mean the difference between life or death.