in 2019 I was diagnosed with PTSD and have found the diagnosis whilst difficult, It has allowed me to find ways and strategies too. I have an opinion that we all have health, sometimes good sometimes challenging , but we all have health. In 2017 I ran my first marathon in Birmingham for the mind. This was following a tragic suicide of my friends son. I felt powerless and wanted to try and do something however small to benefit and support people with far more difficult health problems on my own. This leads me to my next and most challenging expedition if you don’t mind me saying! In April 2025 I will be cycling unaided the length of Italy starting in Bergamo and ending up in Sicily. I’m aiming to cover around 100 miles per day for an 1100 mile journey. This is a challenge as there is no support vehicles sponsorship fancy T-shirts or escape, there is just me and the bike. I have been lucky enough to be joined by my friend Who is an epic cyclist and should keep on time at least. The whole journey should take around 10 to 12 days depending on Italian hills and drivers! I cannot wait to get started and will use challenge for my own mental health training as I call it, I have renamed PTSD, Personal Training in Social Development, and in this way using the diagnosis as a positive tool for change.

I do hope that we get to a place with the as mind where mental health is treated just the same as physical health without any stigma or blame.

Mind is Red Cat partner which is an inspired choice and a nice slice of serendipity for me.

I know that you see lots of people cycling across Africa for a big charities and massive events and I understand that people are hard up and that you might just get a bit bored of people asking for your. I understand this completely and ask you just to follow on LinkedIn Facebook and on this just giving page to see how I get on you might then feel that it’s appropriate to donate a small amount of money to this great I really hope you do but more so I really hope you enjoy seeing if I can complete this rather large cycle ride