When my good friend Greg Sim asked me to take part in the Dellaglio Grand Slam Six Nations Cycle Ride and do a stage in support of DebRA Spirit, the charity he is CEO of, I didn’t really think twice. After a few drinks down at the Sun Pub in , doing a Twickenham to ride with a group of blokes seemed like a good think to do. I had done a charity ride before … about 11 years earlier … so I knew what I was getting myself into – the aches and pains of training, saddle sores, padded lycra shorts, training in the rainny and snowed under streets of , wearing luminous yellow vests, etc...   

But no amount of pain and effort compares to what the children that DebRA supports go through. For those who know little about the cause, this is why I have never looked back on my pledge to raise awareness to this terrible illness.

DebRA is the only charity to provide services and support to children and families who suffer from EB (Epidermolysis Bullosa), at the same time as co-ordinating and providing funds for the research (all over the world) to find treatments and ultimately a cure. EB Research has had some major breakthroughs in recent years and even months, and it is now at a point where, for some types of EB, it is moving from laboratory work to clinical trials - at last, for some of those affected by EB, we are just starting to see the benefits of 15 years of hard work in the labs. 

But clinical research is very expensive - several times more expensive than lab research; services still need to be provided while we wait for the day DebRA can close up shop!  And all this has come at a time when funding has become more of a challenge.

The great news is that The Dellaglio Foundation has pledged to help DebRA, as well as other charities, through this ride. Working with Sport Relief, the Dellaglio Foundation made available a total of 19 Rider places to DebRA. Riders have come to the Team through ’s announcement of the ride at DebRA Fight Night 2009; through supporters of DebRA; from the world and, of course, through contacts of Greg Sim, who is riding the full (almost) 3,000 kilometres. 

So I hope you find it in you to dig deep and sponsor me. A large number of the guys doing this bike ride are athletes or have a high level of fitness. For those who know me well, you know that I have recently hit the big 4-0 and that I have not really used my gym membership to it’s full potential. But you also know that I will give it my absolute all to get to that finishing line in Cardiff just in time for last ordersand raise the money for this great cause.

Thank you in advance for your support.

Paul

P.S. Wish me luck!