On the night of July 6th-7th 2019 I will be taking on my biggest cycling challenge yet - a 25k night ride in Bristol! I will be cycling to raise money for Leonard Cheshire with a team of others, and while I will be doing most of it myself we will have support cyclists to take over at any point when we get tired!

I have always loved cycling, and used to ride a bright yellow trike that, among other things, I played rounders on! I grew out of that trike in my teenage years and didn't cycle again until two years ago at 26. I found an inclusive cycling group, Gloucestershire Wheels for All, where they had all kinds of bikes suitable for people with different needs. To my surprise I found that my favourite bike by far was the handbike, which gave me a fantastic workout but above all was great fun! 

I've just bought my own handbike, and it feels like I’ve opened up some sort of ‘next stage’ in my life. It's the first time I've been able to exercise fully on my own time without having to rely on other people to get me where I need to be, and I am now out on it nearly every day! It is fantastic to be able to go out whenever I want to and keep fit, but for me the most important thing about having my bike is being able to have fun, explore and enjoy the freedom that being on a bike gives you!

I am raising money for Leonard Cheshire, the charity behind Gloucestershire Wheels for All. Leonard Cheshire supports individuals to live, learn and work as independently as they choose, whatever their ability. Led by people with experience of disability, they are at the heart of local life - opening doors to opportunity, choice and support in communities around the globe. Leading by example, they do everything humanly possible to empower people to live their lives a freely and as fully as they choose.