I set out below the email to my sponsors after my first challenge ( a cycling one) was completed after my near life over neck down paralysis, a few years earlier. (ps-before Armstrong was exposed).

I think this illustrates why this charity and the research it supports resonates so strongly with me, and hopefully, you. Please donate generously.

“As you may know from previous emails, last Sunday was the 1st stage Tour de France race for amateurs-London to Canterbury (120 miles as it turned out).
In case you're interested how it went I hope you don't mind me interrupting your day to share a story with you (apologies to those who already know this).
At the finishing line I collapsed in a heap as my eyes splintered into floods of tears. As my team mates pulled me up a microphone was thrust in my face and an interviewer asked me why I had found it so tough. I don't think he expected the long blubbering reply, but this is roughly what I told him.
Nearly 5 years ago I was diagnosed out of the blue with a condition (largely rugby playing related) which would cause paralysis from the neck down in a short time. I was told there was an operation available, but there were risks of it causing paralysis there and then, not making me better- but I had no choice. A week before the op in Sept 2002 I was watching my kids and wife in a pool in Spain, thinking that in a week's time I may never be able to hold, hug or kiss them properly ever again; I probably would not even be able to breathe unaided, let alone move or do any physical exercise-I hit an all time low; was giving up on life.
I then picked up Lance Armstrong's "My Journey Back To Life" book and started to be inspired-in case you don't know, he recovered from advanced testicular cancer to be the first person to win the Tour de France 7 times. As I was told that if the op went well one of the few sports I could do was cycling (I had not done that since a kid) I promised myself that, if the op didn't paralyse me and was a success and to prove to myself I was back from the brink, I would ride a stage of the Tour de France, like Lance. I set myself a target of 5 years to achieve that goal.
The op lasted 6 hours and I was in intensive care for over 20 hours, but fortunately it went well (huge praise for my fabulous neurosurgeon, Peter Hamlyn and his team). I then started the long and very tough road back both physically and mentally. All the time that great American became my virtual mentor and "my journey back to life" my mantra. I had fabulous support along the way-most importantly my wife and kids (visualising them in my darkest times on and off the bike saying "go on daddy, you can do it-keep going"), Mike Walshe,a life coach, Chris McLean, the physio,Paul Tappin/Phil Cavell/Mark Neep (and his GPM10 team), my cycling mentors, Laurence Whitefield/Ashley Fulton/Richard Woolf/Paul Elstone my cycling team, family and friends I do and don't work with-you are all amazing people.
In March this year after much hard work I felt strong enough to start road cycling. As luck or fate would have it for the first time the Tour de France's 1st stage was to start in my home town, London and they were going to let elite and experienced amateurs ride it. I somehow managed to get a place and was going to do whatever gruelling training that was necessary in whatever conditions to do this race. French Alps training took that to the extreme.
So nearly 5 years from nearly giving up on life or life giving up on me last Sunday at nearly 2:30pm (after just over 8 hours in the saddle-an hour faster than Ian Wright!) I completed my journey back to life and all the emotions of those 5 years suddenly caught up with me at the finishing line. I can now start living life again properly.
To all those who sponsored me and sent such inspirational messages of support, you can't imagine how much they have helped me to achieve this and I feel it was a real team effort-thank you all so much. As an extra bonus some people in my position 5 years ago or worse will now start their journeys back to life thanks to your incredible generosity (£5,000 approx raised).
Lance has gone on to write a second book entitled "Every Second Counts"-he's so right and it's my new mantra for life; I can certainly recommend it.
If you get a chance watch the pros do the 1st stage this Sunday 8th July - it may inspire you!
Thank you all”