I registered for Sir Chris Hoy's Tour De 4 a few months ago and decided to take on the 90km Red Route which is a challenging cycle advertised for "seasoned cyclists". In a recent moment of anxiety and self doubt, I wrote down why I signed up and this is the summary of my thoughts...

Im a Chartered Surveyor and there are three of us in my office, myself, Graduate Surveyor Gavin Millar and Administrator, Pauline.

Gavin has been undergoing cancer treatment since being diagnosed with Lymphoblasic Leukemia nearly 5 years ago and, Pauline is half way through her initial chemotherapy treatment having suddenly taken unwell four months ago and subsequently being diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma.

As you can imagine, it's been a hugely difficult time for both of them but they are incredible people and have faced the adversity with a huge amount of determination and positivity which has been inspirational.

Gavin's first few bouts of chemo sadly didn't bear the results he had hoped and ultimately he had to have a stem cell transplant in January, the donor was his brother Fraser who is a Graduate in our East Kilbride office.

During this period, Gavin spent 3 months in hospital and at times his energy stooped to very low levels, however, he asked his Doctor if it was OK to bring in an exercise bike to his ward at the Beatson, which he did. I suggested that he send me a message every time he managed a few km on the bike and I'd match it. I've just looked back at those messages and, despite his frailty at the time, we cycled 200km; he certainly kept me on my toes! His Doctors also noticed he was responding remarkably well to the treatment and suggested that the increased heart rate was assisting in the improved blood flow and the strong response to the treatment. On the 17th of March, Gavin rang the bell at the Beatson and finally got home. Other patients were inspired by his determination and have started using his bike during their treatment and he has left it in the ward for others to have the benefit of.

Gavin's not out of the woods yet, but is on the road to recovery, he's been an unbelievable help to me by working from home particularly in Pauline's absence who is now just in the early stages of the journey Gavin has been through and she is responding well to her treatment and hoping to get to a point of remission that will also allow her to have a stem cell transplant later in the year.

I'm sure some of you will have gone through or have someone you know suffering from Cancer related illness, to have two of three people in an office with similar blood related cancer has been difficult to comprehend and certainly puts many other matters in perspective.

Anyway, if you've managed to read this far. Gavin is indebted to the work the staff at the Beatson Cancer Charity have done for him and when Sir Chris Hoy launched his Tour de 4 cycle Challenge for Cancer, I suggested that we give it a go, unfortunately his Doctors blocked him from doing anything strenuous at this stage of his recovery, but inspired by his efforts, he's been very supportive in encouraging me to give it a go.

I'm not a "seasoned cyclist", and the Tour de 4 is a very challenging 90km cycle from the Chris Hoy Veladrome to Kilsyth and back also taking in the Tak ma Doon road, I made the mistake of driving to it the other day and parts of it were a struggle in the car, which made me contact the event organisers to see if I could downgrade to a lesser demanding route, however, at a recent Tour de 4 launch event, my friend (and PT), Kenneth Muir Mbe, who is doing the challenge with me, had the fortune of having a 1:1 with Chris Hoy, and he said that the reason they've included the Tak in the route is to symbolise the challenge that Cancer sufferers are going through to try and get over the other side, so Im doing it! Due to work commitments, I havent managed the level of training I'd hoped but I managed a 40km cycle last Saturday and a 50km cycle on Sunday so next Sunday I just need to complete that journey in one go.

Inspired by Gavin and Pauline, I'm determined to make it and raise as much as possible for Gavin's chosen charity the Beatson. Sorry for this long winded explanation but I felt it important to give you the background to this fundraiser.

And Gavin, get peddling as soon as you can, if there's a Tour de 4 2026, you're joining me next time!

If any of you have pocket change weighing you down, I'd greatly appreciate if you can throw it in the direction of my virtual bucket, and thank you to those who have already donated!

I'm raising money for Beatson Cancer Charity and your contribution will make an impact, whether you donate a lot or a little. Anything helps. Thank you for your support.