Hello!

In July 2016, I will be cycling from London to Paris with the University of Manchester RAG team in aid of Breast Cancer Now. I haven't really cycled much since school, so 240 miles in 3 days is going to be a massive challenge - but what's the point of doing something easy? Hopefully, just under 9 months will be enough time to train so that I won't be incredibly unprepared for it! 

Thanks to my amazing family and friends, I have already raised the minimum donation amount needed. This is absolutely fantastic and I am incredibly grateful! If you have come to donate and seen that it's at 100%, please don't be put off - it would be brilliant to smash the target for such a great cause.

Why Breast Cancer Now?

I am very pleased that Manchester RAG have chosen to work with Breast Cancer Now. Like all of us, I know people who have been affected by many different types of cancer. However, breast cancer is particularly close to my heart as my granny had it in the mid 60s and my mum has it now. Thankfully, her treatment is going well at the moment so, who knows, I might even be able to persuade her to join me on a few training rides!

You may not have heard of Breast Cancer Now - it was only formed in 2015 - but that doesn't mean that it is a small charity. Breast Cancer Now is the result of a merger between two established charities, Breast Cancer Campaign and Breakthrough Breast Cancer. It is the largest breast cancer charity in the UK, funding research, working with policy-makers and raising awareness through public health campaigns. 

Breast Cancer Now has recently launched The Last One - an ambitious campaign trying to ensure that, by 2050, no-one will die from breast cancer. They believe that this is a viable goal, but millions of pounds needs to be invested in research in order for it to be achieved. Check out their website for more information about the campaign.

If all of that hasn't persuaded you, here are a couple more little things that just might - especially the sadists amongst you:

1. As you may have noticed, we finish cycling on the 3rd of July. My birthday. We will be cycling almost 80 miles that day - not exactly my idea of an ideal way to spend the occasion but I am more than willing to do it if it means raising lots of money for such a fantastic cause.

2. If you have ever met me, you will probably know that I have long nurtured a deep hatred of the colour pink, which just happens to be the main colour of Breast Cancer Now. By donating to this page, you are ensuring that I will be spending more time wearing pink over the next year than I have in the previous 24 put together. I hope that makes you happy...

Thank you very much for reading my story - I hope I can do all of you proud!

Here's some boring but important information:

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.