I am waking up at 6am on Sunday 31st July to cycle 46 miles (75km) to raise money in the fight against cancer.

Those that know me (or ever see me cycling around Richmond park) will appreciate the following:

- My bike is about 12 years old, a heavy hybrid with chunky tyres that don't like speed

- I am not attractive in cycling gear (see photo). Studies show it decreases my attractiveness by about 50 percentage points.

- My level of fitness is sub-par, I don't exercise that often except when tipsy and Tina Turner comes on the radio

- I'm not great in any sort of sun. If a miracle happens on 31st July and there is bright sunshine, I'll be covered in factor 50 suncream and a bit of heat rash. I'll also probably be a sweaty mess

- I have never taken part in an organised event like this, I am doing it on my own and I'm a bit scared

So I'm probably not the ideal candidate for an event like this. Why am I doing it? I want to get up and sort my fitness out, yes, but I would like to see more people get into cycling in London (hopefully London will become a safer place for that) even if they are a sweaty mess like me and I want to raise money for a good cause: fighting an illness that affects so many lives all the time.

It's *only* 46 miles (not the 100 miles it says in the side bar), I know it's not the 100 mile ride but 46 miles is quite far for me! Any sponsorship money you can give will help me focus on why I'm doing it and, when my legs inevitably feel like jelly and I'm particularly feeble, I will remember the struggle that so many people face with cancer every day and force myself to realise how fortunate I am and not be so pathetic and to cross that finish line in good time. I *have* to do it in 4 hours - that's the cut off. But I'm hoping to do it in 3 and a half...

So how far is 46 miles? Any of the following:

- The distance from Canterbury to Calais

- The distance from Headcorn to Big Ben

- The distance from Heathrow to Basildon

- The distance from Coventry to Nottingham

Thank you xxxx