A week ago, I didn’t know I was doing the Fireflies Tour this year. I’ve taken part in the 1000km journey from Geneva to Cannes four times and I thought the 2013 Tour would be my last. I found it harder than ever to ride 140km and climb 3500mm over 3 to 4 mountains day after day. So for the past two years I’ve sat in London and watched the riders from afar, wishing I was there.

I was fully expecting to do the same this year, but decided that perhaps I could do it, and perhaps I should do it again. Recently I heard the chief executive of Bloodwise describe how money raised by this year’s Fireflies Tour will again be going to the Catherine Lewis Centre at the Hammersmith Hospital, specifically to pay the salary of a clinical trials nurse looking after patients being given hopefully groundbreaking treatments for leukaemia and other blood cancers.

Having started riding a road bike in 2009 because I wanted to take part in this incredible charity ride, I now love cycling, but normally confine myself to Saturday rides from Richmond Park to the Surrey Hills. So having the opportunity to both revisit some of the world’s most awe-inspiring mountains and also to raise money for such a great cause has proved impossible to resist. I’ll just put the fact that we’ll be cycling up the equivalent of 3 times the height of Everest to the back of my mind.

I don’t know if I’m ready - I’m 3 years older and 5kgs larger than when I last attempted it. I know it’s going to be very hard and there will be times when it will difficult to get back on the bike and carry on. In past years we’ve battled through blizzards, rainstorms and extreme heat, spending up to 12 hours in the saddle and burning 7000 calories a day. 

So here I am, asking you to sponsor me as I take on the Alps again. Please help raise money for an excellent cause. I’ll do my best to post daily updates and photos to keep you entertained.

I pay all the costs of the ride myself. Every penny raised goes straight to the Catherine Lewis centre, via Bloodwise, to help them carry on their invaluable work.

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.