Keith hopes Ride London cycle will help support his local community

When recruitment boss Keith Crossman isn't hard at work, he loves to get on his bike and cycle through the countryside. His cycling adventures have taken him across the UK with friends and he's even enjoyed international cycling holidays. He's now in training for his latest challenge Ride London 100 to raise money for Saint Francis Hospice.

Andy Furneaux is a member of a business Networking Group I attend called BNI. He is a tireless campaigner and fundraiser for Saint Francis Hospice and his love for his job and the cause is wonderful to see.

He announced the Hospice were looking for cyclists to raise funds and the challenge was set!

Cycling has been a lifelong passion

I have completed the Prudential 100 a couple of times in the past but that was a few years ago! This year the ride will go through parts of Essex so hopefully my friends, family and business contacts will come out on Sunday 29 May and cheer me up the hills and make a donation to Saint Francis Hospice.

The Hospice is ironically located at the top of a series of hills I have cycled up on one of the routes we sometimes ride. Its beautiful surroundings and location help to some extent with the pain and suffering of those patients in the Hospice and are a support to the visiting friends and family.

I am no longer 21 so training is certainly more of a struggle now and trying to find the time for long rides is always hard. 100 miles is a big challenge, but we all need challenges, and I am really looking forward to it. I love music so I have a great little music mp3 player for my bike which helps me keep going. This ride also gives me an excuse to eat more cake at the food stops.

Ride London is just weeks away now and it will be a fantastic day. To ride through some Iconic streets and locations in London will be amazing. It will be safe as the roads are closed to traffic and having done this event before, I know how buzzed up and positive everyone is. There are all ages and backgrounds taking part. There are also a lot of elite cyclists taking part who glide up the hills effortlessly.

Helping the Hospice care for more families like mine

Like so many people, I have had both family and friends who were cared for by the Hospice. The charity relies on donations to fund its services to the community. The staff and supporters do such an amazing job so any extra funds are going to be welcomed.

You can donate to Keith's fundraising page by visiting  https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/keith-crossman4