In June I will be cycling the near 600 miles from the Parkinson Steps to the Brandenberger Tor to raise money for Candlelighters, a Yorkshire-based charity that provides help and support for children with cancer and their families. 

Instead of channeling my strange enthusiasim for Germany and cycling into repeatedly telling people that I lived in Berlin and like to cycle, I've decided to use my tiny leg muscles to raise as much money as I can for a cause that does extremely beneficial work in Yorkshire and beyond.

The charity itself was founded and is run by parents of children who have or have had cancer, and the medical staff who treat them. Fighting a cancer diagnosis at such a young age can be exhausting physically as well as emotionally and financially, and Candlelighters have been supporting these children and their families for more than 40 years through counselling services, maintaining cancer wards and funding research. 

My current fundraising goal is £400 - and in combination with the other considerably more athletic cyclists of Leeds RAG we aim to raise £25,000.

(Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never share them with anyone or send you unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity. They'll make sure Gift Aid, an additional 25%, is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer, too.)