The Challenge On Thursday 2 April 2015 when most of you will be leaving work for the pub to start your long Easter bank holiday weekend, I'll be setting off on a train down to Cornwall to hopefully get my last decent nights sleep before embarking on what is likely to be the toughest challenge I have ever done, both physically and mentally.

Setting off at the crack of dawn on Friday 3 April 2015, I'll be cycling on average 110 miles a day for 9 days, arriving in John O'Groats on Saturday 11 April 2015.

The journey will take me from Land's End to Okehampton, then on to Bath, over the Welsh boarder to Cleobury, back over in to England to Bolton, and up to the Lake District, before crossing the Scottish boarder in to Hamilton, Fort William (the toughest day of the challenge), Kyle of Sutherland (another b!tch of a day), and then the final stretch in to John O'Groats where we will enjoy a quick pint before catching a 3 hour mini-bus down to Inverness for the night.

Type One Mission (TOM) Everything you need to know about this charity can be found on their website, http://www.type1-diabetes.co.uk/, which I encourage you to visit, it's truly inspiring what this family has set out to do.

Type One Mission (TOM) was founded after the tragic death of Thomas Bucciero (a Type One Diabetic since the age of 4) when he was 15 years old. If you wish to know more about Thomas please follow this link

His parents Tony and Donna work for the charity for free and funded the set up out of their own savings. Every penny raised by this charity will go towards the aims of the charity and its fundraising efforts.

So why TOM? A lifelong family friend has a son, Charlie, who suffers from Type 1 diabetes. Anyone familiar with this terrible metabolic disease will know the problems and issues this poses everyday. Surprisingly Charlie doesn't let it get him down and goes about his life with high spirits and a lot of courage. He is a charming little fella who would like nothing more than a cure or prevention to be found for Type 1 diabetes. For 2015 Charlie began selflessly uploading videos of his day-to-day experience and struggles with the disease on to YouTube to raise awareness and support other youngsters suffering. These videos can be found here 

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCC41cefMGcLnsggOPqQKawQ/videos 

By donating to TOM you will be funding/assisting Dr Lucy Walker's research at University College London/University College Hospital, where Charlie is currently being treated day to day, in trying to find a cure and/or preventative measures.

Whilst this is just a small chip, donating to this cause via TOM ensures your hard earned money is going exactly where you want it to, something that was vital to me in nominating a charity for this challenge.

I hope the above has inspired you to donate, and to donate generously, I will do my best to thank each and everyone of you personally but if I don't see you before I set off, thanks a million.