In April, I lost my mum to Alzheimer’s.

It’s a cruel and unrelenting disease — one that slowly erodes memory, identity, and eventually, the ability to communicate or recognise the people you love. Watching that unfold was one of the hardest things I’ve ever experienced.

One of the more devastating effects of Alzheimer’s is something called sundowning. As daylight fades, confusion and anxiety often intensify. For many living with the disease, night-time becomes a source of fear and distress — a period of darkness in more ways than one.

On the weekend of the summer solstice — the longest day of the year — I’ll be taking on the Solstice Sprint: a 1000 km, non-stop ultra-distance bike race. The route starts and finishes in Warwick, taking me through the rolling hills of the Midlands, across the rugged beauty of the South West, and into the wild landscapes of Wales. I’m aiming to complete it in under three days, riding through the night with little or no sleep, chasing the dawn.

It felt fitting.

This ride is about endurance — physical and emotional. It’s my way of honouring my mum’s memory and raising awareness of what so many families go through. As I cycle through the night, I’ll be thinking of all those affected by Alzheimer’s who face a different kind of darkness each evening.

Please consider supporting me. Your donation will help fund vital research and support for people living with Alzheimer’s and their families. Together, we can bring light to the darkest hours.