So why is a man who is almost 60 yrs old, who has a leg missing, who suffers from chronic back and neck pain and has recently undergone shoulder surgery even contemplating riding almost 60 miles from London to Brighton on Fathers Day when he could be relaxing with a beer??

On 29th September 2024 I lost one of my best friends. Lee Rix was 56 years old and he suffered a massive heart attack despite the efforts of his family and myself and then the concerted efforts of paramedics and air ambulance doctors Lee could not be saved.

Lee and I were very close, we watched rugby together, he came to France with me to watch England in the semi finals and bronze finals of RWC 2023. Our partners enjoy time together and our kids grew up together.

Along with a group of other blokes, all in our fifties, we formed a small cycling group and went out on our bikes every Sunday morning since 2019.

So, the six of us who now make up this little cycle group, led by our team Captain Stuart Wakley, have decided to do this charity bike ride in memory of our friend. We want to raise £5k between us.

Please spare whatever you can and just give a thought to the pain I will be suffering in my nether regions as I try to get me and a bike up and over the South Downs!!!