John Green was my stepfather, and when he set up the Helford River Children’s Sailing Trust, he asked me to be one of the Trustees. The Trust is all about building confidence and independence through physical endeavour, based around learning to sail. It has provided wonderful and life changing experiences for thousands of children over the years. I have recently taken up cycling, and two years ago I rode from Bath to Paris. This was to mark the 50th birthday of a friend, with whom we rode to Paris, and was a huge learning curve for me. This year saw my 60th birthday and we decided that to mark this we should ride across Italy from Rimini on the east coast through Tuscany to Pisa on the west coast. We were all primed, fit and really looking forward to it, and I had decided that I would seek sponsorship for the ride to raise funds for the Children’s Sailing Trust. Sadly the COVID-19 pandemic has put paid to that trip to Italy so now I am going to ride from Bath to the Helford River, a journey of just under 200 miles (much more if I get lost!) and the further west I go the lumpier it becomes. While perhaps not quite as exotic as a ride through the Italian mountains it will be just as challenging and probably more appropriate as a fundraising ride!

Please give generously to this fabulous cause and please pass this message on to as many friends and family as you can. These are difficult times for small charities such as the Children’s Sailing Trust and every little helps.

Thank You.

Peter Dixon