Many of you will know Rosa's story. That's her in the picture in her blue raincoat, lending her support to me in a cycling event. A happy, if wet, day in the Highlands.

I do these cycling events for fun, but now I have set myself a cycling challenge for a much more important reason. I want to give something back to the people and the hospital that helped and continue to help Rosa so much.

Rosa was diagnosed with a brain tumour in October 2009. The Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Edinburgh (known as the Sick Kids) acted with lightning speed and within a week Rosa, then aged 5, had undergone an 11-hour operation by the very best neurosurgeons. After a long period of treatment and recovery, Rosa has returned to health and happiness. Now she is enjoying school, racing round the playground with her wee pals.

On 22 April, the Sick Kids Friends' Foundation launched an appeal for funds for new brain surgery equipment which will help children from all over Scotland and further afield. The press release said:

"The Sick Kids Friends Foundation is launching a fundraising drive to raise £220,000 to purchase new state-of-the-art equipment for brain surgery. This kit, so far only available in one other paediatric centre in the UK, will ensure patients benefit from the most up-to-date neurosurgery technology, bringing major improvements for children with brain tumours, hydrocephalus, epilepsy and brain infections."

What better way of saying thank you to all the expert, compassionate and cheerful medical and nursing staff we have encountered since last October than to help buy equipment that will give children in Rosa's position an even better chance of recovery.

So the Gretna Green to John O'Groats Cycle was conceived - from one end of Scotland to the other on a bike, starting on 26 September. 450 miles (750 km), five days, two companions also riding for charity, one steady southerly wind and no punctures. Well that's the plan anyway.

Now all I need is for you give me the incentive to do all that training and get up all those hills. Please donate today if you know us and know Rosa. And donate today even if you don't. It's a great cause. I'm sure that parents who find themselves in our position in years to come will want to thank all those big-hearted people who dug into their pockets.

If you would prefer to give to a charity active in the developing world, I'd urge you to donate to AHEAD, working in Ethiopia, the chosen charity of my ride companions Ruth and Gordon. Just click the link below.

http://www.justgiving.com/ruth-jepson

Here's what you need to know about JustGiving:

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it’s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.

Thanks,

David