A very personal challenge for me, following my own, yet unrelated, health journey, I spent many years not riding a bike due to balance issues following the total loss of my hearing and navigating a new chapter with a new set of rules, that I did not think would get me back on a bike. Photo takes me back to my cycling heyday!

So I am relearning to cycle and taking my Brompton from one side of the country to the other, probably around 200 miles, planning on adding in a few local places personal to me along the way. If you know me, you'll know despite working in the South, if I am going to do my first challenge on a bike, it will be in the North! Starting from the Lancashire Coast and finishing on the Yorkshire Coast back in the Motherland, I will undertake a coast-to-coast ride, over an extended weekend. (Not capable enough - yet - to tackle this monster in one day... give me time). Hoping I have fish and chips awaiting my arrival.

I have chosen to raise funds for 40tude, a charity we are collaborating with at Brompton. Brompton is also funding colon cancer screening for those aged 45-49. 40tude's focus is on curing colon cancer. 40tude is working to raise awareness of the importance of getting screened regularly for colon (bowel) cancer, currently the UK's biggest cancer killer of non-smokers. Early diagnosis can and does save lives, so a complete no brainer to raise funds and for folk to get tested.

Your donation will be directed very carefully also to specific, leading-edge research already making a difference to transforming the early diagnosis and treatment of colon cancer. Together we can reduce the number of people seriously affected by this disease.

Those concerned about my ability to get myself across the width of the UK, don't worry, I will have an amazing little support team.

Personal thank you to Andy and Dave for your passion for 40tude and our partnership to get more people on the 'no brainer' bus, to Julian, you inspired me to safely get back on a bike, find confidence, fall off and get back on (a few times!!), a fancy schmancy helmet and belief in me to undertake this challenge, and to everyone who has been cycling with me, encouraged me and even those who have hurled verbal nonsense at my developing ability to cycle again, yes, even you have inspired me not to give up.

LET'S GO!