Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

On Sunday 3rd May, took part in the inaugural Tour de Yorkshire Sportive, a bike ride which weaved through 87 miles of West Yorkshire's hills and mills. Starting at 7am, the ride tested me with numerous long climbs.

I completed the ride - without walking! - in an official time of 8 hours 8 minutes. I took advantage of three feed stations in that time (toilet breaks!) and spent 7 hours 33 minutes in the saddle.

It was (un)comfortably the longest ride that I have undertaken and it followed most of the route which the professional racers rode later in the day, ending at the same finish line. This also meant that there were strict cut-off times to obey, which I somehow managed to do.

I wasn't going to ride for charity, as we are often inundated with such requests. However, as I am riding anyway, and have been asked by some people whether I was doing so for charity, I changed my mind at the last minute. If people wanted to donate a few pennies or pounds to a good cause in exchange for me getting wet in the Yorkshire rain, then that can only be good for the charity in question!

The Children's Hospital Charity:

Money raised through the Tour de Yorkshire will help fund a brand new hospital wing and equipment to keep our services at the forefront of medical provision. This includes a pioneering 3T MRI scanner that will make the hospital a world-leader in the treatment and removal of brain tumours. The life-saving scanner will be the first of its kind in the UK, and only the third anywhere in the world. It will mean the hospital’s neurosurgeons can see clearer images in operations, meaning better outcomes for children.

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. So it’s the most efficient way to donate – saving time and cutting costs for the charity.