Well here we are.....

A little more or less than three weeks ago I decided to cycle across Cuba, in doing so raising a load of cash for the fantastic charity women-for-women http://www.women-for-women.org/what .

I am a comfort zone chocolate and slippers type of a girl by nature, so what prompted such madness? Not really sure, except I recently managed to run a half marathon which is something of an achievement for a previously registered couch potato such as myself, and seem to have, as a result, decided I can do anything I put my mind to! So when I saw the ad in my weight watchers magazine asking for applicants I leaped....and thought I'd take a couple of people along for the ride!

Alison & Caroline (more on them later) both decided, within about 24 hours, that they were equal to the task, and agreed to join me on said challenge. This is no mean fit as Caroline will, I'm sure freely admit her fitness has lapsed somewhat and Alison recently gave birth to her third child, and yet already fundraising events are organised and bikes are purchased on which they can train! Subsequently we have also been joined by another of Alison's friends. I am immensely grateful to have such good but maybe slightly bonkers friends as these.

So what challenge lays ahead?.....

• Well between the four of us we have promised to raise at least £12,000 by September 2008. This Blog will mainly document the fun/stress/laughter and tears involved in this process!
• November '08 we will be cycling 350km across Cuba!
• Oh yes, and we still are not sure if we have been accepted to do this yet.....hold your breath everyone!

A Little bit about us.....

• I am Ruth, mum to Sam (4) and Jack (2.5). When I was 36 weeks pregnant with Jack I developed the serious liver condition, Obstetric cholestasis, Jack had to be induced at 37 weeks to basically stop my own body killing him. I forever indebted to the scientists and medics who identified this condition and gave me my gorgeous son. Hence my desire to support women-for-women. I live in Frome, Somerset with husband Dougal and the boys, and work part time as a health visitor. In my spare time I run, knit, and attempt DIY and am currently learning to sign. My current fundraising effort is being concentrated on knitting baby hats to sell at the Merlin Theatre Christmas fair on 24th November.

• Caroline and I went to secondary school together. After a slightly rocky start to our friendship it became sealed spending many evenings and weekends wandering around west Sussex in our later teens. Now an Occupational Therapist Caz lives in west Sussex with her best mate Vez and their dog. Caz is a scout leader, and now avid cyclist on her new bike!

• Alison & I met in NCT antenatal classes is surrey, when we were both expecting our first children, Sam & Abby who turned four in August. Now with five small infants between us we have supported each other through out the joys and trials of parenting, and juggling life as working mums. Alison lives in Surrey with her other half Mike, Abby, Millie (2) and Ben (3 months). She also likes to knit and is something of an e-bay queen. Watch this spot for more details of her upcoming fundraising ladies day....