I HAVEN’T BEEN ON A BIKE FOR 18 YEARS!!!! 

Good – now that I have your attention…..  Imagine an elephant – no, wait, scratch that – a BABY elephant….. On roller skates….. And what the hell, let’s put a blindfold (and tutu – might as well) on it, as well……  That’s me on a bike….  The words that come to mind are obviously “poise” and “grace” (not “wobble” and “ouch” – as I fall off for the MILLIONTH time…)

So with that image in your head, I can understand why you’re thinking “what on earth convinced you to sign up for this Bikeathon, Mandy??”

One name is all it took - Naomi.....  Naomi Warren is an incredibly special and brave girl - not only is she the adorable daughter of my best friend and her hubby, Caroline and Danny, she is also a fab twin to her sister Lorelai – girls who I am very proud to be godparent to.

Naomi is also 2 years old and in January this year was diagnosed with ALL Leukaemia.

I'm really pleased to say that following amazing treatment and support from Great Ormond Street Hospital; the ongoing treatment from Basildon Hospital; and the sometimes daily support from the visiting medical professionals (alongside, obviously, the overwhelming and continuous support from family and friends), Naomi is in remission - but will still have to undergo further chemotherapy and treatment for the next 2 years before she can be given the all clear.  And you know what, not wanting to take anything away from the amazing doctors, nurses, family and friends – but Naomi herself has been a true inspiration – taking everything in her stride and getting on with a normal toddlers life – ably helped along by her concerned and loving sister – and cared for by two of the bravest parents I know.

So I think it’s pretty obvious why I feel the need to take part in this Bikeathon – to give back something to help Naomi and all others like her who suffer from this horrible illness.

So finally – thank you again for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.   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 and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it’s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.

So please dig deep and donate now.