When I turned 40 I decided to raise money for charity by riding the 100 miles of the Prudential Ride – that was the start of my love affair with cycling.

So much so, that after that point, I could not in good conscience ask my friends and family to sponsor me again for a cycling related challenge. No matter how much of a challenge, I would love all the training and the event itself so how could I ask for money?!?

So for my 50th year, rather than enjoying this seminal year by doing lots of fun, entertaining things, I’ve decided to do the opposite, and run the Edinburgh Marathon!

I need to explain that for the majority of my life I have hated running, and I have generally been pretty awful at it. I have always looked with envy and awe at people who have run marathons.

So running a marathon would for me the pinnacle of physical challenge. And don’t be fooled into thinking that because I have spent the last 10 years cycling silly distances for fun, running will be easy. I write this in week 4 of a 20 week intense training programme where I am exercising 6 times a week and I can assure you easy it is not!

Hence, the time has come for me to ask you to part with a little of your hard earned cash to sponsor me for this 😀

I have two teenage daughters and I am all too aware of the stresses and strains on young people arising from modern life with the added pressures from social media.

So I have chosen YoungMinds which is the UK's leading charity championing the wellbeing and mental health of children and young people. Driven by their experience, YoungMinds creates change so that children and young people can cope with life's adversities, find help when needed and succeed in life.

Any amount will be hugely appreciated 🙏