On Friday July 22, I will be leaving the desk and joining 27 friends to cycle from the London Eye to the Eiffel Tower (via a Newhaven to Dieppe ferry) in less than 24 hours to raise money for  Linkage Community Trust, a charity run by our close friend Emily Oliver's father, Michael. It supports people with a wide range of learning difficulties, including Emily's brother, Edward. They provide life changing and flexible care from education to employment opportunities.

The journey includes nearly 200 miles of cycling, for many of us exceeding the combined total of all previous mileage. The challenge is compounded by London rush hour traffic, sleep deprivation and behinds more accustomed to 9-5 cushions than 19 hours on a saddle!

Any donations would be hugely appreciated by us and by Linkage Community Trust to whom this level of support will make a large and very tangible difference.