This September I will be cycling the length of the UK (Lands' End to John O'Groats) to raise money for charity in memory of my Dad who passed away 10 years ago.

Cycle rides are some of the best memories I have of us together so raising money for charities close to my heart this way is something I have always wanted to do. I will be riding most of the journey by myself with friends and family supporting me along the way.

I will be raising money for 3 charities close to me: British Heart Foundation, Widowed and Young and the Angus Lawson Memorial Trust. These 3 charities are connected via my team fundraiser and you can choose which charity to donate to. It would mean a lot to me if people could try to ensure the money is split evenly between the charities; but please donate however you choose.

I have included below a bit more information about why I am raising money for these charities and what they mean to me, and links to each of their websites below if you would like to find out more.

I really appreciate any and all support with this challenge and towards my fundraising goal.

If you would like to find out more about my journey, then please get in touch. Thank you!

I have written below a little more about why I have chosen these 3 charities and what they mean to me.

British Heart Foundation

My dad passed away suddenly from a heart attack 10 years ago when I was just 11 years old. Every 3 minutes someone dies from cardiovascular disease. British Heart Foundation conduct research to help predict, prevent and treat this disease. Raising money to help fund this research and to ensure as many children as possible don’t have to grow up without a dad means the world to me.

Widowed and Young

WAY provide bereavement support and a community to families who have gone through unimaginable tragedy. As a child, whose world was turned upside down in an instant, being around other people who ‘just get it’ was really important for me, and for my family too. It helped me grieve and work out how to navigate life through such a difficult time- I don’t quite know where I would be without this support and community. Giving back to WAY and funding the support that helped me figure out how to navigate tragedy at such a young age means so much to me.

Angus Lawson Memorial Trust

I came across this charity recently and think the work they do in connecting funding with charities to ensure the money is truly making change for good is incredibly important. They use targeted grants to improve the lives of children and young people worldwide; from working with the Streetlife Trust to provide emergency shelter for young people experiencing homelessness in Blackpool, to supporting women and girls to build sustainable futures out of Iraq. I think their work, and transparency in such, with children and young people around the world is very important and I am proud to help fund this.