I am taking part in the Tour de Dyfed & West Glamorgan raising money for the RNLI.

This hilly 190 mile ride from Swansea to New Quay will see the team visit each of the 10 active RNLI stations along the way: Mumbles, Horton & Port Eynon, Burry Port, Tenby, Angle, Little Haven, St Davids, Fishguard, Cardigan, finishing at New Quay.

It’s unforgiving terrain involving 60+ miles of riding per day and over 12,000 ft of climbing over the entire journey. My training is well underway and has involved some laps of the Isle of Wight, Richmond Park and evening sessions on my peloton.

We have a big group fundraising target, and the money raised will be shared equally between Tower (London) and New Quay (Wales) Lifeboat stations. Volunteer crews at New Quay have been saving lives at sea off the coast of Ceredigion since 1864. Tower Lifeboat Station, at Waterloo Bridge on the Thames, is the busiest in the entire RNLI network, launching more than 10,000 times since opening in 2002. The RNLI receives no government funding and relies on public generosity to provide these vital services.

As a sailor, and with friends who give up their time to volunteer for the RNLI, I am very aware of the incredible service which they provide to those that need them out on the water.