This is the first time I have attempted, or even thought about attempting, a challenge of this nature.  But when my brother raised the idea last year I knew I had to do it.

September 6th this year will mark 20 years since our Dad died from motor neurone disease, aged 49.  Along with our friend Chris, we'll be cycling more than 500km from London to Brussels to raise money for the Motor Neurone Disease Association.

MND is a horrible illness which progressively attacks the nerves in the brain and spinal cord stopping messages reaching muscles.  It results in muscles becoming weak or wasting away and leaves sufferers struggling to walk, talk, eat, drink and breathe.  There is currently no cure.  But there is hope, especially with advances in stem cell research, so the MNDA needs all the funding it can get.

This challenge is going to be tough (day 3 is 112 miles!) but I can't wait for it to start and have absolutely no doubt that I will complete it.  

Thanks for reading and a massive thanks for the donations - big, small and in the middle, every penny counts.

Jim