Hi, I’m Fiona and I haven’t asked for sponsorship from my friends and family since I ran the marathon in 1999, because none of the challenges I’ve taken on since then matched up to that….until now.

Some time last year, I entered the inaccurately named Chiltern 100 sportive, thinking that, with a bit of training, 110 miles can’t be that hard. Last month, when I started training for the event on 31 May, I looked at the climbing required and realised that it’s 2,700m, which is roughly equivalent to two ascents of Ben Nevis, and realised that I’ve bitten off more than I can chew. I am now properly afraid of failing to get round and being picked up by the Chariot of Shame; this is my pet name for the rescue van which sweeps round picking up the tortured husks of Lycra-clad humanity who have been defeated by the 21 brutal hills on the route. I am also very scared about the pain.

So, if you do happen to have a bit of loose change, or a fiver that has been through the wash by mistake, please consider donating it to my friends’ charity, Remembering Not to Forget, which is fundraising to help people living with dementia and I know it will be well spent.

Thanks very much.

Fiona O’D