I love the Lakes and have been going there with my family for many years. The locals who volunteer to serve with air ambulance and mountain rescue services, like this one, are amazing. The Great North Air Ambulance Service, like many, depends entirely on voluntary contributions for its survival.

Please sponsor me in fundraising for them, as I do the incredibly challenging Fred Whitton cycle challenge - 112 miles over all the tough climbs in the Lakes, by bike, in one day. Whilst my daughter Iona can aim to come in alongside the elites, I'm just aiming to finish the course before it gets dark, and still be alive.

The Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS) rescues hundreds of severely injured or ill patients every year throughout the North East, North Yorkshire and Cumbria. Their doctor-led critical care teams deliver life-saving treatments at the scene of the incident whether that is on a fell top, a roadside or in a city centre. The charity responded to 1,640 call outs last year* alone, via their helicopter and emergency response vehicles, where they performed treatments and procedures which can mean the difference between life or death.

Training updates

Easter weekend - I spent a happy couple of days cycling from Liverpool (well, Warrington) to Lincoln, via the Peaks. So great route guidance thanks to Mark of @ridealltheosmaps fame.

May early bank holiday weekend

Aiming to do 50 miles or so on each of the three bank holiday weekend days to try and get a little fitter for the challenge.

**if anyone is going from London to the Fred next weekend and could give my daugher and her bike a lift, please let me know (train strikes posing serious threat to her entry...) Huge thanks in advance!

And huge thanks to my supporters, so much appreciate your contributions and good wishes :)