Later this month, I’ll be taking on the Edinburgh Challenge in support of Alder Hey Children’s Charity.

The challenge includes:

340km cycle over 3 days from Southport to Edinburgh (21st–23rd May)

A full marathon in Edinburgh on 24th May

Alongside me:

2 others will complete the full cycle

This challenge is particularly personal for me. At 15 years old, I underwent brain tumour surgery at Alder Hey. The care and support I received there had a huge impact on my life, and 8 years down the line it feels like this is a great opportunity to give back to a charity that does such incredible work for children and families.

Training is well underway, and any support — whether through donations, encouragement, or simply sharing this — would be hugely appreciated

Finn

When illness touches your family, it changes everything. It certainly changed mine. The things that normally feel important suddenly fall away, and what matters most becomes very clear: health, hope, love, and simply being there for the people you care about.

That is why this challenge means so much to me. It is about far more than cycling from Southport to Edinburgh. It is about resilience, gratitude, and finding a way to give something back. I am taking on this ride to raise money for Alder Hey Hospital in Liverpool because I have seen first-hand the extraordinary care it gives to children and families when they need it most. Alder Hey means so much to so many people, and to my family it means more than we can ever really put into words.

When Finn was fourteen, he was diagnosed with a benign brain tumour. It is impossible to fully describe what that felt like as a parent. From our very first appointment with Connor Malucchi through to the brain surgery carried out by Sasha Burn, we were met with kindness, compassion, and respect at every step. During one of the hardest times of our lives, the care shown to Finn and to all of us as a family was nothing short of remarkable, and it is something I will never forget.

Eight years have now passed since 1 May 2018, and reaching this point feels incredibly significant for me and my family. It feels like the right moment to pause, reflect on how far Finn has come, and do something meaningful in return for the people who helped us through such a frightening and uncertain time.

If you are able to support this challenge, I would be so grateful. Any donation, no matter how big or small, would mean a great deal to me. I know times are difficult for many people, so I truly appreciate anything you feel able to give. Every contribution will help recognise and support the incredible work Alder Hey continues to do for children, young people, and their families in supporting their Physical and Mental health needs. There is always another family arriving there frightened and needing support. Once, we were that family.

Being autistic means I experience the world a little differently, and that has shaped who I am in so many ways. Sometimes it can be hard. I can feel things very deeply, become overwhelmed when there is too much going on, and find busy or emotionally intense situations difficult to process.

But being autistic is also part of what gives me many of the qualities I value most in myself. It has strengthened my determination, my focus, my honesty, and my ability to commit wholeheartedly to the things that matter to me most. It gives me a strong sense of purpose, deep empathy for other people, and the resilience to keep going when life feels hard. In many ways, it is part of what gives me the drive to take on challenges like this.

So for me, this ride is about much more than endurance. It is also about showing that difference can be a strength, that challenge and ability can sit side by side, and that with love, purpose, and perseverance, we can often do far more than people might expect.

Put simply, cycling gives me more spoons……..

Simon