The Prince & Princess of Wales Hospice (PPWH), situated in Bellahouston Park, Glasgow, exists to help patients achieve the best quality of life possible in whatever time remains for them. Where it may not be possible to add days to lives, the hospice aims to add life to days for patients and their families.

I first became involved with PPWH in early 2008, just after I started my term of office as Chair of Commonwealth Games Scotland and was able to assist the hospice with some sporting connections for events and the occasional raffle or auction prize. I continued to support PPWH as much as as possible when my term of office ended in 2015, but I have always wanted to do something significant to help raise funds. This cycling challenge provides me with the opportunity to do just that and, believe me, it will be a real challenge for me!

To put my personal challenge in perspective, until about a month ago I had never cycled more than 12 miles in one trip and now I've signed up to a challenge which will see two days of 60 mile rides, with an average of more than 40 miles per day in hot conditions over the whole period of the challenge!

I've been training for this since the beginning of April 2019. The good news is that the training is going well and I can now regularly churn out 24 mile rides on consecutive days and, although it will be very tough, I'm sure that I can complete this challenge to raise the funds for PPWH that I know my generous family, friends and colleagues will donate. 

Huge thanks in advance for the generosity of everyone who is able to donate to help me reach my target.