Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.  I am asking for your support for a good cause, as well as to motivate me to complete a long range cycle from Bilbao (starting on 30 March) to Tarifa (crossing Spain from north to South).  

The route is over 1,200km and, although I will be with couple of friends, we will be riding unsupported.

Strangely enough I can't wait for it and after some serious thought I have decided to tie up the effort with another appeal on behalf of the charity, Mind, who do fantastic work helping people who are struggling with the challenges of life.

You may recall that last spring I cycled from Warrington to Newcastle (with a brilliant group of friends, and raising over £15,000 in total) to remember our good mate Jonny Rowlands who sadly took his own life late in 2017.  It was a great adventure and fitting tribute to Jonny, but we'd obviously rather he was still with us.

When we pulled up in the Quayside sunshine last May I thought that the Jonny ride was a one-off, but a year later I find myself about to get on my bike, once again for charity.....

If I am honest, this latest trip is probably motivated in large part by my own mid-life crisis during which I seem inexplicably excited by lycra and saddle cream.  

However there is serious side.  Late last year exactly a year to the day after Jonny took his life I got a sad reminder of how common the challenges Jonny faced seem to be, when I learned that another friend (also a male and in the 45 to 50 year old age group) decided life was too much for him.

I really don't want to become a serial charity requester.....so I promise that I won't come asking again, unless my next venture is more challenging than this one (sounds like a fair rule to me?!).  On that basis I would be really grateful of your support as we ride across Spain.

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. All the money will go to the charity and 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.