Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

5 years ago, on the 31st March, 2009, at just 34 years old, Barry Jones lost his fight to cancer.  A fantastic mate, husband, father, son, brother, colleague and data salesman......... many of us lost a very good friend that tragic day.

He touched loads of hearts and was always the "life and soul" of any gathering, whether it be work or play. He lived life to the full, and I'm so glad he did, "live every day as if it's last your last, as one day it will be"  was what Barry did, and we all should....as you never know whats round the corner....

In Barry's final weeks, St.Francis offered amazing care and support, for Barry and his family, at a very difficult time. Hospices such as St.Francis need charitable donations to keep this level of support going, however don't have the brand names of leading charities that receive significantly more support. I urge you to support local charities like this that need our help,  that in turn could help us, our friends or family in the future.

I always said I'd do something mad to raise valuable funds for St.Francis, and for me this is MAD......

8 months ago I entered the Etape du Tour, which is this years stage 18 of the Tour du France - I'll be doing it on Sunday 20th July, 5 days before the main event does it. Pau-Hautacam is a difficult mountain stage, so not ideal for my 100kg frame (for perspective professional (good) cyclists are 50-65kg).

6 months ago I bought a bike (I have not been on a bike since I was 14 and back then it was a BMX - I have never had a road bike) and started training (at Xmas - not ideal). I had to learn how to ride a bike first - 30 gears, clip in pedals, painful saddle, traffic lights, roundabouts, cars etc. etc..... I have now done 2,000km of training, made significant progress and hope I am prepared as I could ever be, given where I started....

Please support me, Barry and St.Francis on this challenge. All donations of any size, no matter how small are massively appreciated.

Thank you very much in advance!

Geoff