When I tell people that I’m going to cycle 1,000 miles from Land’s End to John O’Groats they always have one question – why?
One reason is because I’m a middle aged man with a penchant for Lycra and a growing love of cycling. More importantly is because I hope to raise £1,000 to help children like my son Sam who suffer from life-threatening allergies.
I'll never forget driving to hospital with one-year-old Sam in the car seat beside me.
I'd given him a breadstick, not realising that it contained milk powder. He had an allergic reaction. As I drove he went floppy - I kept slapping him but he did not respond. I was terrified.
At A&E he was given the right drugs and was soon better but managing serious allergies became part of my family’s everyday life.
Sam is nine now, and full of beans. He is allergic to nuts, eggs, milk and shellfish. He copes with his allergies brilliantly and we are very aware that we are lucky to have a child that is otherwise so healthy and happy.
Between 1991 and 2004, the number of children admitted to hospital with food allergy reactions has increased by more than 600%. Allergies can develop at any age and with no warning and they can be fatal. The Anaphylaxis Campaign works to help find a cure and support people with serious allergies.
I set off from Cornwall at the end of August and will be in the saddle for seven hours a day covering 85-105 miles for 11 days. There are some hills and mountains along the way - Everest is 29,000ft, I'll be climbing more than 35,000ft. I’ve got a bad back and dodgy knee but am determined to do it!
