Thanks for all the generous support so far to raise funds for two life-saving causes: The Kent, Surrey and Sussex Air Ambulance emergency rescue service, and the OSCAR fund for Great Ormond Street Hospital in London which cares for children from around the world.

But more's needed!

I am honoured to have been selected as one of the charity riders in the Haute Route cycle race cross the Alps, credited as the world's toughest and highest amateur race. We will cross 19 alpine cols involving 21,000m of vertical climbing during nearly 800km of racing in just seven days.

Last year, the Kent air ambulance helped save my own life by rushing me to hospital after an accident. I owe them and many other medics a great deal. OSCAR was set up by a close friend to help Great Ormond Street after they saved the life of one of his children against all the odds.

All donations will be divided equally by me after the event (although this site can only handle the nomination of one charity directly).

Please see:

www.gosh.org/oscar

 http://www.kssairambulance.org.uk/ 

Thanks, Julian

For more on the Haute Route see: www.hauteroute.org