I’ve got a birthday coming up in September (This seems to happen around the same time each year.) and this year I had the daft idea of cycling my age, Then I thought: Why not do this and raise some money for a good cause at the same time?

So, on my birthday (Or very soon thereafter depending on the weather.) I am planning to cycle for 70 miles – even though I am still 21. This will be further than I have ridden on one ride and, for me, will mean 6-7 hours in the saddle. Tour de France riders only do about 4-5 hours in a day – Lightweights!

I will be raising money for the Teesside Cystic Fibrosis Centre at James Cook Hospital which does a fantastic job of helping Granddaughter Violet and numerous other children and young people with CF. Not to mention the advice and support they give to her Mum and Dad.

Like me, you may have heard of CF, but did not really appreciate how it affected people. Put quite simply, it’s a genetic condition that primarily affects the lungs and digestive system. There is no cure for CF and it requires lifelong specialist treatment. That’s where the CF Centre at James Cook Hospital comes in.

All donations will go to the Our Hospitals Charity and will be specifically earmarked within the collection pot for the Cystic Fibrosis Centre to use.

Even though she is only 14 months old, Violet might join me for part of the ride (If you live in Swaledale, you may well have seen the two of us on training rides.) and we will both be chuffed to bits with any support you can give.