The 8th May 2020 marks the 75th Anniversary of VE Day, a day my late father remembered with gladness although tinged with the memories of conflict he witnessed from landing on Sword Beech, Normandy, France, on D-Day 6th June 1944, through to the end of the war when he was in Kolding, Denmark

In memory of this, I will be cycling the 871 mile route he and the rest of B Company of the 5th Battalion of the Liverpool (Kings) Regiment followed, arriving 75 years to the day that they did.

Last year with my wife Louise we had the privileged of visiting the Methodist Church of Sri Lanka.  The people are seeking to live in harmony after a 26 year civil war ended in 2009, although this is difficult as people who where once on other sides of the conflict learn to live as a united community; and the social norms that were ravaged by war are established once more.  As allied troops brought hope and peace to Europe 75 years ago, with your sponsorship support we can do likewise for Sri Lanka today.

If you would like to sponsor me then money raised will go to the Sarah Brentnall Memorial Women Empowerment Centre in Batticaloa, a project of the Puliyantheivu Methodist Church.  The Centre provides housing for women (mainly teenage girls), who have suffered abuse including pregnancy.  It offers a safe place from which to rebuild their lives. The charity is refurbishing part of their premises as a hostel for people who live in the coutryside but come to the city during the week for work.  The money the workers will pay for the hostel will make the Empowerment Centre self financing for the future.  Their budget for the refurbishment is £14000.   I know lives will be changed for the better with your support.

Feel free to contact me by email or phone with any comments queries.