Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

Back in 1994 I was fortunate to run the London Marathon, I was just doing it for me as it was on my wish list, but an old work colleague suggested I should do it to raise money for Bury Hospice, they had recently looked after her father in his final days, we raised over £800.

I have to confess, back then I knew very little about the hospice or what it did, but I contacted them and met one of their inspirational fund-raisers (from memory a chap called Les!), but I also met a truly enigmatic and humble man another Les, a Mr Les Ratcliffe, a hospice stalwart. Again I knew very little about Les, but I visited him at his house as he was sponsoring me and providing me with a running vest. I was due to head off an expedition to Belize shortly after the marathon and he beguiled me with stories of his travels in his youth, and latterly provided me with my vests, one for training and one for the real event, emblazoned with The Hospice, a Red Rose and 'Dunsters Farm', his family business. I met Les from time to time, and for me he remained as I first met him, humble, unassuming, good natured and charismatic.

Over the years, I have maintained our links with The Hospice and done what we could to make a contribution wherever we could, even a healthy donation after a somewhat inebriated and impromptu Karaoke at an otherwise dignified Hospice Black Tie Ball.

In very recent times, I have learnt at first hand, through very close experience of family and colleagues, what an incredible job they do, and it inspired me to once again up our game and do what small bit we can to raise funds for an incredible and unassuming organisation.

So, we are doing a bike ride, simple, we'll travel through all of the areas we cover as a business, starting in Ramsbottom, travelling through Bury, heading to Prestwich, on to Radcliffe and back to Ramsbottom.

I am sure there are more fashionable charities out there, that are no doubt higher in the public profile, but as an ardent fan of my home town and the people and businesses in it, we are doing it for The Hospice, we are aiming to raise £1000 which we will divide between Bury and Rossendale Hospice.

Thanks for taking the time to read this and thanks for your support!