Last year my Dad died. He had been suffering from Cancer for several years and for the last few months of his life was in hospital and then a hospice. The distance between where I live just north of Dumfries and where he was on the Isle of Wight meant that it was difficult for me to spend time with him in the last few months of his life.

For the last few weeks of his life Dad was looked after at the Earl Mountbatten Hospice on the Isle of Wight. The hospice is a very caring environment and was great at supporting my dad and my mum through a very difficult time. The hospice requires considerable funding and unfortunately has to raise most of it through donations from the public.

So I’m going to cycle home. From my house in Southern Scotland to the Isle of Wight.

My Dad loved cycling, as do I.So I’m partly doing it in memory of him, partly to give me a chance to have some time to remember him and partly to try to raise some money for the hospice.

The distance is around 450 miles. I’m going to camp on the way and carry all my gear with me. I’m also going the interesting route, including Lake District, Forest of Bowland, Peak District, through Oxford to meet up with my brother Sam who is hopefully going to ride the last bit with me and on down to the New Forest and the ferry to the island.

I'm hoping to do the ride in just over a week, starting on the 14th June and hopefully getting to the island on the 23rd.