Friends, family, concerned onlookers,

It has come to my attention that I have, in a moment of what I can only describe as a temporary lapse in sanity, signed up to cycle 54 miles from London to Brighton.

For those who know me, you'll be aware that my primary athletic pursuits involve lunges towards the remote control and sprinting to the door when my food delivery arrives. My body is less of a finely-tuned temple and more of a comfortably furnished bungalow. The closest I've come to experiencing 'wind resistance' is when I open a packet of crisps too quickly.

Yet, here we are. I have purchased a bicycle that costs more than my first car. I own several items of skin-tight Lycra which, frankly, should be illegal for public viewing. I am learning a new language that consists of words like 'cleats', 'cadence', and 'chamois cream' (don't ask).

My training regime consists of whimpering up small hills, being overtaken by everyone, especially the older generation , and calculating how many jelly babies are required to power me per mile. I will be facing the infamous Ditchling Beacon, a hill so steep it’s rumoured to have its own weather system and is single-handedly responsible for 90% of all mid-ride existential crises.

I anticipate a day of sore legs, a sorer behind, and a profound questioning of all my life choices. I will be fuelled by sheer panic and the haunting thought of your collective disappointment if I give up and get the train.

But Here’s the Real Reason I’m Doing This...

Joking aside, my one day of predictable, self-inflicted suffering is for an absolutely incredible cause that deals with real, long-term hardship. I'm riding to raise money for Trek4Ceylon (T4C2026).

While I’m worrying about a hill in Sussex, the T4C2026 team is focused on a much bigger mountain: rebuilding St. Luke’s Methodist Hospital in Puttur, Sri Lanka. This hospital was a lifeline for its community, providing everything from maternity services to emergency care. Devastated by the civil war, it's now barely functioning.

The money we raise will go directly towards renovating the main building to create a proper Out-Patient Department (OPD) and an Emergency Treatment Unit (ETU). It will give doctors the facilities they need to treat adults and children, and bring essential healthcare back to a community that desperately needs it.

My temporary pain is for a permanent gain for them.

Sponsor My Suffering! (The Donation Menu)

Every penny you donate will not only be a huge motivation to get my whining carcass over the finish line, but will also help rebuild a vital service. To make it fun, here’s what your donation can buy:

£5 - The 'Good Luck, Don't Crash' Tip: This buys me a bottle of water and a boost of morale.

£10 - The Jelly Baby Fund: You'll be personally responsible for powering me over one (small) hill.

£25 - The Anti-Chafing Cream Pledge: Your generosity will directly save my posterior. Believe me, this is a worthy cause in itself.

£54 - A Pound a Mile!: You believe I can actually do it. For this, I will be eternally grateful.

£100 - The Ditchling Beacon Hero Fund: If you donate this much, I promise to shout your name at the summit (if I have any breath left to speak).

No donation is too small. Thank you for your generosity, your pity, and for supporting this phenomenal cause.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a date with a very steep hill. Wish me luck.

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Thanks for taking the time to visit the T4C2026 JustGiving page.

The Trek4Ceylon Team has its nucleus in a group of school friends from Sri Lanka, now established among the Sri Lankan diaspora community overseas.

Passionate to support their troubled homeland, and to give Sri Lankan children of tomorrow the opportunities they had enjoyed, the friends – with other alumni, international friends and contacts – came up with the idea of a charity cycle ride from Colombo to Jaffna.

The cycle ride recreates the sport, fun and bonding that marks our connection, while also providing a visible means to attract support. Symbolically, by traversing the island from Colombo to the war-devastated north – it offers a journey of heart-rending beauty, healing and hope.

The T4C2026 organising committee would like to thank the brand ambassadors Dr. Pia De Girolamo, Dan Norton and Scott McGrory for their support.

www.trek4ceylon.com

T4C2026 - Why We Ride?

● St. Luke’s Methodist Hospital Puttur was identified by Trek4Ceylon in 2025 as a hospital to renovate and offer medical services.

● From 2025, we've made an initial commitment to support St Luke's for five years.

● Each year Trek4Ceylon will set-out the project to be implemented using the rider funds / donations

● Trek4Ceylon 2026 funds will be used for the renovation of the main building to offer daily Out Patient Department (OPD) and Emergency Treatment Unit (ETU) services to adults and children

St. Luke’s Methodist Hospital, Puttur

St. Luks’s Methodist Hospital was established in 1901 by the Methodist Mission in the Jaffna Peninsula, Sri Lanka. Today it is a barely functioning hospital. The hospital was known for the care it used to provide the community through in-patient care, outpatient care, maternity services and dental services.

Due to the protracted civil war and lack of facilities and personnel, the hospital ceased to be functional. Once the war ceased, the Puttur Methodist Mission was determined to keep this hospital open to serve the public. However, due to lack of funding they have been unable to renovate, equip and bring in the needed medical professionals to provide services. Today the hospital provides just 2 hours of consultation services provided by a retired medical officer on weekdays.

Trek4Ceylon Partnership

Trek4Ceylon has identified St. Luke’s Methodist Hospital as a needy cause to invest. This hospital run by the Methodist as a mission hospital has proven its commitment to the wellbeing of the local community and has their acceptance and respect.

Trek4Ceylon through the T4C2026 ride will raise funds towards the renovation of the building that houses the outpatient department (OPD). Three consultancy rooms are to be set-up and equipped to support doctors. One of the doctors will be a paediatric specialist. Laboratory services and pharmacy services will also be offered to patients.

Future rides will expand these services to include in-patient services. There will be a special focus on offering services that are not particularly addressed well by the Government health care system in this region. These services would likely include treatment and care for special needs children, Diabetic Clinic, Short- and Long-term rehabilitation, Palliative Care, Maternity Services and Dental Services.

Trek4Ceylon has its own qualified and experienced medical representatives on the St. Luke’s Methodist Hospital Board to guide these strategic investments with accountability.

No donation is too small - so please dig deep.

Thank you for your generosity.

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity.