In less than 2 weeks, Tom Grieve will be part of an 80-strong cycling cohort setting off on a 1500km sponsored cycle ride from London to Cannes. Thank you to everyone who has already committed to sponsoring him...we're now doing a last push to reach his target, to support his last push in training for a quite terrifyingly demanding ride.

Cycling the equivalent of London-Birmingham every day for 6 days, including some rather large hills for which our Essex valleys are not an adequate training, the ride raises money for five charities - the UK's oldest children's charity, Coram; Article 25, a fantastic disaster relief charity; Emthonjeni Trust, the MSA Trust and theTom ap Rhys Pryce Memorial Trust which works with diasdvantaged young people to tackle gang crime.

Please, please sponsor Tom online through his dedicated page here - he's been putting in the hours on the bike and in the gym, is fairly terrified about the state his backside will be in by the end of the ride, and the rest of us have been hearing far too much about punctures, energy drinks and the joys of lycra...! It's a massive physical challenge, and a big fundraising target to reach, so we hope that you will feel able to support Tom in some way.

Thank you!!