Welcome to the Sherriff/Wilson Grand Adventure. Simon Bruce, Katrina, Simon Wilson and I will be cycling through Southern Italy from September 1 to about September 19/20th.

This is a fundraising page and I am raising money for Versus Arthritis. Unfortunately for us Sherriffs, arthritis and inflamatory diseases run in the family. However, I am also using the page to update friends and family about how we are doing. So do come back often, you don't have to donate every time or even at all, but once would be nice.

Why are we doing this trip?

All I can say is it seemed like a good idea at the time! At every point where my life has changed significantly, I have done a 'rites of passage' journey. When we make big changes our sense of self, our I, changes and you need time to get used to that.

So I face a new decade, and I know this sounds dramatic but when I was first diagnosed with Rhematoid Arthritis, I wasn't sure I would get this far. I have also taken semi-retirement, a big change for a workaholic whose job has defined them.

So the rites of passage this time is on a bike.

Why are my sister, brother and husband joining me? You need to ask them direct but a Sherriff has never turned down a challenge and a Wilson never leaves their post :-)

What kind of adventure is this?

That we don't yet know. It will certainly have comic interludes. In fact we have already had a couple but I will get to them later.

We are hoping it will not be a tragedy but four old timers cycling through Italy - it could be!

It will certainly be epic.

You are most welcome to join us through our social media posts including here and of course, come and join us in Italy. I hope we would have a greeting that outdid my father's, who said to a friend of the family he hadn't seen for years: Sharon, have you got the time?

Why Versus Arthritis?

Just a little about why Versus Arthritis is my chosen charity.

There are millions of people with some form of arthritis. You simply cannot face it on your own. It saps your strength, your resilience and worse of all your good nature.

Versus Arthritis is a brilliant charity. It uses its funding to invest in breakthrough treatments. It is undoubtedly one of the best sources of information and vital support for everyone affected by arthritis.

If you can, please sponsor me via this page.