In May 2026, my friend and colleague Emma Britton died following a diagnosis of stage 4 lung cancer. She was incredibly brave throughout her illness. Despite everything that was going against her, she continued working on radio and as a celebrant, bringing joy and warmth to people around her.

She was instrumental in helping me start my career, and we shared many wonderful moments together at BBC Radio Somerset. She mentored me as a presenter before passing her Saturday morning programme to me in 2013. I now follow in her footsteps on the station’s Breakfast Show.

I owe her a great deal, and was inspired by her courage in her final year. For this reason I am once again doing a bike ride to raise funds for the charity which helped her. (ALK+ UK)

Last year a group of us cycled from Trafalgar Square in London to the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. It was by far the longest ride I’d ever done and pushed my French language skills to the limit!

This year we’re tackling northern Spain. We’ll start at the Guggenheim in Bilbao, and hopefully six days later arrive at the Royal Palace in Madrid, having climbed mountains and dealt with the Spanish heat.

Any donation to support the charity that helped my friend out would be hugely appreciated, thank you.