Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page. All the costs associated with this cycle ride I will be covering myself so everything you donate will go directly to Sands.

In September 2019 after months of training I set off to cycle the length of Britain from Lands End to John O’Groats (LEJOG) - which is just under 1000 miles! After only 12 miles into the ride in a freak accident I was knocked off the bike and despite riding on for 20 miles I had to give up . A visit to A&E told me I’d broken my hip, and I spent the next 12 days in hospital after hip replacement surgery.

With a metal hip inevitably I lost a lot  of fitness after that but LEJOG has remained unfinished business for me. I still wanted to honour the kindness of those who had sponsored me, to help Sands in their vital work and to do what I'd promised Siobhan. So for 10 days from 1 September I have signed up for “LEJOG - Take 2” to get this done! 

In many ways this is more of a challenge for me now as I’m not as fit, and with a metal hip! The training is actually the most daunting part as I’m really far off where I’d like to be fitness wise so many hours and days in the saddle lie ahead.

As this is LEJOG Take 2 if you are one of the kind and generous people that sponsored me before there is no need to do so again

As with previous challenges I am doing this for Sands, the stillbirth and neonatal death charity. This is because on 9 January 1989 our daughter Siobhan Elizabeth, was stillborn. My wife, Jo, was 42 weeks pregnant and the night before Jo was to be induced Siobhan's little heart stopped beating. We are lucky parents as since then we went on to have another beautiful daughter, Megan, and a fine son, Tom, so we are a family of five, it's just one member of the family is no longer here with us! Not only that we are also now super-delighted grandparents to the wonderful Joseph & Eddie. 33 years on Siobhan remains forever a part of our family and our lives, and we think of her every day. We have learned how to live with our feelings of grief, and to see the gifts Siobhan has given us in many other ways! 

The death of a baby is not rare. Every day in the UK on average 13 babies are stillborn or die soon after birth. The UK has one of the highest rates of perinatal death in the developed world. Sands provides wonderful emotional support, comfort and practical help to anyone affected by the death of a baby. It also exists to improve the bereavement care received by parents and families, and to influence policy makers and promote research to reduce the number of babies dying.

Sands solely depends on vital funds to deliver the wide range of support services, bereavement care and research and prevention. It would mean so very much to me if you could support the important work of Sands by donating to my challenge. 

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.