It was at the start of the summer, I was at a Carbon Conversations transport focus meeting when I first heard about the Ride to Paris. I just felt that I needed to do it. The 'why' is still hard to define, it's more a feeling than a thought-out thing, and it's clouded by thoughts that I really shouldn't be doing it, and fear that I can't. But here we go..

My daughters are 8 and 10 now, and I want to set an example, that each of us is important and together we can make a difference. We must be the change we want to see and challenge ourselves to do things that are difficult because the future of our precious Earth is at stake. At home we're striving to reduce our carbon footprint, it's not easy to break bad habits but we're doing loads and I'm proud of my family.

The Ride is also for me...a big adventure, an endurance test, time to make friends and take a break to refocus, plus I love France and Paris and my bike too!