It’s almost midnight and I’m having a few drinks and eating junk food as the next year is going to be spent – mostly – sober, healthy and fit. As someone who has spent around 2/7ths of his life drunk and previous food specialty was pasta on toast the detox is going to be a challenge in itself.

I went to Macdonald’s just before midnight to eat fast food, something I won’t do again in the next year.

It has gone so fast since I started organising the whole event a few months ago and I’ve spent many a hungover weekend saying ‘it all starts on the 1st’. Well that day is now here and exactly a year today I will set off from San Fran, it’s safe to say I’m quite worried. I’ve a huge amount of training, organising and fundraising to do but I’m really focused on spending the next year of my life making it a success.

Each month I’m going to set myself a few targets in the hope of giving me small realistic tasks as opposed to stressing out about the whole thing. There are a few blog posts in the pipeline so please give me a follow on Facebook or Twitter to keep up to date.

So here are the tasks for September

• Complete a 60 mile ride
• Get in touch with a cycling coach
• Learn what foods are healthy and how to make them
• Sign at least 25 friends and family up to donate £10 a month for the next year

Thank you for looking, please just take a few seconds to share the story or tell your friends and family. The more money I raise, the more I can help children with deafness and cancer.

If you have absolutely any comments, suggestions, ideas or anything the please mail me at contact@rideforthechild.co.uk. If you’re interested in helping out with the ride in the form of corporate sponsorship then please have a read of this page.

I’m very grateful of working for such an awesome company in Stein IAS who have been incredibly supportive since I first pitched the idea to them. Also many thanks to the people who helped me make this website and its content, you know who you are.

Shane x

• Tour De Lakes