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Towards the end of last year I celebrated my 50th birthday but less than a month later I lost my Mum after a brave fight against cancer. Long before Mum was diagnosed I'd decided I wanted to complete a challenge during my year of being 50 to prove to myself that I could still do it.

Towards the end of Mum's days she was cared for in the most extraordinary way by the staff of Katharine House Hospice Stafford. They're there not just for the patients but the whole family and not just in the short term. Work of this kind needs constant support and I immediately felt I wanted to do something in return and in memory of Mum.

To this end I shall undertake my challenge on Saturday June 2nd and it will be a cycle ride from Rugeley to Ashbourne, over Longcliffe to Matlock and then on to Bakewell. I'll take in the heart of the Peak District journeying to Hathersage before riding alongside Ladybower Resevoir as I tackle the south side of Snake Pass. Having enjoyed the descent into Glossop I will turn for home via Hayfield and Buxton. A detour up Axe Edge and then the south side of the Cat and Fiddle will loosen me up for a flatish ride from Macclesfield to Leek before a few more rolling miles to Stoke, Stone and then home.

The thing is, I've done this before so it doesn't really count as enough of a challenge, so the next day I'll do it again but the other way round this time. The total mileage for the two days will be 300. If there's enough left in the tank I'll attempt to push it up to 500 kilometres but that's an outside attempt.

If my adventure captures your imagination and you think it is worthy of a donation to help Katharine House continue their amazing work please spare whatever you can.

This is a tribute to my parents who bought me a bike and enabled me to get started on something that I shall never end and a tribute to all the remarkable people who work in hospices everywhere. They are very special people indeed.

Thank you again for taking the time to read my page.

Health and happiness to all

Phil.

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