On Friday 22nd July, 28 of us are planning to don the most unflattering of sportsgear and slipstream our way from London to Paris via Newhaven and Dieppe. We're planning to do this 175 mile journey within 24 hours - no mean feat given the inactive, sedentary desk-based lifestyles we all lead. Practice runs so far have done little more than reveal our inability to grasp the intricacies of clip-in pedals.

The aches, sores, crashes and punctures (expecting the worst) will all be worthwhile as we're fundraising for a fantastic charity, Linkage Community Trust. This is run by the father of a close friend, Emily Oliver, and it provides support for people with a wide range of learning difficulties, including Emily's brother Edward. The charity can perhaps be best understood by its vision of a 'Society in which disabled people are seen as people first and are able to live fully integrated lives'.

As a small charity any donations would be hugely appreciated by us and Linkage to whom every little bit really does make a tangible difference.