At the end of May I’m taking part in a Coast to Coast event, cycling 250 miles from Gairloch on the West coast back to Aberdeen. The main purpose of the event is to raise money for local charities, and this year I’m raising money to support the Archie Foundation and the Baird Family Hospital Appeal.

The new Baird Family Hospital, currently being built in Aberdeen, will truly be a state of the art facility that will transform women’s and family healthcare across the region. In addition, the aim is that the Baird will provide a Scottish centre for excellence in neonatal care. The Archie Foundation have committed to fundraise £2 million to enhance the clinical environment and to fund cutting edge equipment that would otherwise not be available within an NHS facility.

I have a personal interest in this. Both of my daughters were born prematurely, and recieved amazing care through difficult times in the neonatal unit of the Aberdeen maternity hospital. The new Baird family hospital will be a much improved facility with enhanced capabilities in neonatal care, and will bring huge benefits for those whose journey is more challenging.

If you could please consider a donation to this great cause it would be much appreciated. All the costs of the event are being funded directly by the riders, so all donations go directly to the charity, and bp will match any donations so anything you give will be doubled.