In memory of my sister, who was recently killed in a freak accident whilst out on her mountain bike near her home in California, and to raise money for a fantastic charity, Child.org, I am going to Kenya in November (11-18) to cycle 500km through Kenya's national parks, from Amboseli to Mombasa, which is a challenge I am relishing!  I have something of my sister to take with me – a well-padded seat cover – so that I can share this journey with her, as she loved her mountain bike too. I won’t be on my own – I’m part of a group of 30 intrepid cyclists sharing this journey. 

If you can donate anything to this great cause, please do so, as all donations will be well-used, and will give me the encouragement to complete this adventure and everything it will throw at me.  Some of you will know I had a partial knee replacement earlier this year and this will be the summit of my recovery. I am at a great place in my health and fitness anyway, but there is always room for improvement, at whatever age! 

In order to ramp up my cardio training I am going to be swimming a 2km lake swim in Wimbleball Lake on Exmoor in Somerset on 24 September, which is further than I have swum before.  Edit: the swim was cancelled due to bad weather :(

My cycle training is about to begin in earnest on and off road, having started on my static trainer already – there is no substitute for real bumpy surfaces. Edit: training is now in earnest - please read the updates for further details!

All money donated will go towards Child.org's life-saving work in maternal and child health, and if you can donate anything I will report back to you on some of the work we get to see whilst out there.