On September 6th I was 50 years old.

So perhaps all of this is a mid-life crisis, a desperate attempt to lose weight, a chance to raise money for some charities I care about, or all of the above! Anyway …

Throughout 2020 I have been cycling towards 5,000 kilometres - all without leaving home, and all to benefit four brilliant charities.

I was hoping to get on the training bike every day, for 20-25km/day. Then I got Covid-19 so I had no energy for a while. Over the summer there was some sad and difficult situations, so by the time I got to September 6th I had cycled ... 1250km!

Undaunted, I have a new plan ... I have extended the finish date to September 5th 2021, and am steadily "Pedalling through the Pandemic"! Can you sponsor me? Every little bit helps! 0.1p/km = £5, 1p/km = £50.

The charities who will benefit are:

The Brentwood Catholic Children's Society,

especially as they develop their work to support children and young people struggling with issues of mental health. The BCCS offer counselling support, and training sessions for those working with children and young people. Their work is often - necessarily - very discreet. The workload has increased dramatically during the Pandemic; I have seen the effects of their support first hand, and it is magnificent.

HCPT Group 709 Bursaries.

HCPT take children with additional needs to Lourdes each Easter, and Group 709 are a group of student age volunteers who help in many different ways during the week. However, since many have limited finance, this will help them towards the cost of their fare - typically £550+. The week in Lourdes transforms lives - both for the children, and for those who look after them.

Help Refugees.

From Calais to Greece, across the Mediterranean and beyond, Help Refugees are at the front line of providing basic support, dignity and care for some of the most vulnerable people in the world. I have seen their work first hand, and what they do is utterly amazing. It is volunteer-led and life-saving.

Walsingham House at Abbotswick

is where I lived and worked from 2017-2020, and where I still have strong connections. Before the Pandemic, the House was at capacity, with the volunteer Team welcoming over four thousand children and young people, to enjoy retreats centred in faith and offering peace, space, teamwork, creativity, prayer and challenge. During the early months of the Pandemic the House served as a refuge for women fleeing domestic violence during Lockdown, and in autumn 2020, as well as summer 2021, in-person retreats were possible in schools and parishes. Now, in 2021/22 bookings are returning well. The money from the cycling will be used to support post-Pandemic recovery of the House, as well as "seed funding" to help us see whether we could build some extra retreat facilities on our wonderful countryside site.

Thank you for anything that you give.