This morning I managed to squeeze a 20 mile ride in before work, and it was the perfect morning for it. Warm, sunny, and with all sounds of summer around me – from swifts screaming above to to the gentle babble of the River Windrush in the picturesque village of Swinbrook (above). Good for the soul and sets you up for the day!
Cleeve Hill Climb ©circuitofthecotswolds.org
This coming June, I’ll be riding my first sportive, the annual Circuit of the Cotswolds, and in doing so, raising money for Helen and Douglas House.
I’m someone who has spent the last 10 years at a desk, not doing any sports or exercise bar the occasional walk. Most days my exercise was walking from a car park to an office. As such, I’ve been unfit, and very overweight.
This all changed last year when I discovered cycling. I’ve lost over a stone and a half now, and I’m ready to take on my first sportive! Well, actually, I don’t feel quite ready yet to cycle 70 miles over Cotswold hills, but I’m training as regularly as possible to be as ready as I can be. While 70 isn’t a big deal for some, it definitely won’t be an easy one for me.
As well as bit of suffering, the aim of this ride will be to raise money for Helen and Douglas House.
Helen & Douglas House is a registered charity providing respite and end of life care for children and young adults with life-shortening conditions, as well as support and friendship for the whole family. The two hospice houses are bright, vibrant and positive places, where the emphasis is on living life to the full, even when that life may be short.
Children can stay at Helen House and young adults can stay at Douglas House, along with their families, for short periods of time for rest and recuperation, treatment of distressing symptoms and end of life care and support. In any one year we support over 250 children, young adults and their families.
It costs over £4.5 million every year to run Helen & Douglas House, most of which comes from voluntary contributions – your support means a great deal!
I hope you’ll consider supporting me – I’ve set a very modest fundraising target, but I’m sure with the power of the interwebs, we can beat that into a cocked hat!
So, here we go: Please sponsor me!
We’re having a truly Indian Summer here in the UK, and it looks set to continue over the weekend. It gets dark by 7pm at this time of year, so I had to get out early tonight to enjoy the warm rays while they lasted.
This image sums it up for me – riding through pretty countryside, with long shadows and village names that make giggle like a schoolboy.
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