So what is London Edinburgh London? It’s a 1500km (932 miles) self-supported cycle ride across the United Kingdom, between the iconic capital cities of England and Scotland.  It’s not a race, but it must be completed in a maximum 125 hours (5 days 5 hours) to make your way around to Edinburgh and back to London.

https://londonedinburghlondon.com/

Many friends think I’m crazy and have asked why I’m doing this epic ride, which got me thinking?  Could I complete the ride and make a difference to someone else's life during these times of an ever increasing cost in living?  This is where I thought of a local charity called "Open Hands."

Open Hands support vulnerable people in the Leicester area - they believe that every life is valued and that everyone can have hope for the future. They seek to provide emergency support and care for those most vulnerable and disadvantaged and empower individuals to move forward in their lives through offering practical help, advice, skills training and mentoring opportunities. They also provide a wide variety of practical support from their Compassion Centre (which receives over 200 visits per week) in St Matthews area of Leicester.  This includes a Pie Night, an Emergency Food Store, clothes, toiletries, bedding, and furniture. 

https://www.openhandsleicester.org.uk/

To help me prepare physically and mentally for this epic ride I am also undertaking a number of other rides.  Some of these have already been completed (this year), those being some 200Km (125 miles) rides.  Easter Saturday a circular 300Km (185 miles) ride from Leicester to Cirencester in 15hrs.  During May bank holiday, a circular 400Km (250 miles) ride from Chepstow across Wales to New Quay in 20hrs.  In June I will be completing a ride called the Wander Wye, a 600Km (375 miles) ride in 40hrs.  To further assist I also plan a number of through the night 200Km rides in June/July. No pressure then!

Your support for Open Hands would be very much appreciated and will also help inspire me to get through those inevitable dark hours that go hand in hand with the excitement of these events