Le Jour de France 2014

This was going to be just another annual effort to raise money. Which would have been fine. But this year, it's become much more.

Just a few weeks ago, my dad passed away after a decade of multiple illnesses, which he endured with great bravery and stoicism throughout. So, this year, I'm riding to try to add to his legacy through your — our ­— donations to PID UK, who support people with primary immunodeficiencies (and their families) by assisting them to manage and live with their conditions.

Four of us will be riding about 180 miles in 24 hours, with the added complication of also having to fit two channel crossings into that time. It's a shorter distance than previous years but, with the clock ticking and the ferry waiting for no-one, we'll have to put the hammer down.

We leave Petersfield in Hampshire at 5pm on Friday 5 September, ride to Newhaven, cross to Dieppe, ride to Barentin (Petersfield's twin town) just outside Rouen, then to le Havre, take the second ferry to Portsmouth, and then, assuming we've got that far, we'll have to ride it like we stole it to get back to the start in under 24 hours.

And, if it works (you'll understand my reasons for limited testing), you'll be able to follow us as usual on our site:

http://www.lejourdefrance.org.uk/

This year we remember not just Tim, but also my dad. Needless to say, this year I'm twice as grateful for the support you can give. Thankyou in advance for it.