As a doctor, off on a truly global adventure, I felt it was important to help a charity which delivered medical aid worldwide. A friend told me about Merlin and I did some research. I was really inspired by Merlin’s dedication and approach to providing medical humanitarian aid. They are the only specialist UK charity which responds worldwide with vital health care and medical relief. They work in the world’s most difficult and dangerous environments: in countries ravaged by civil war, blighted by drought, devastated by earthquakes and landslides and their teams of doctors, nurses and public health specialists don’t stop working just because an em ergency is over. They stay in place until lasting health care services are rebuilt.

As I found out more about their work overseas I read about Merlin’s campaign ‘Hands up for Health Workers’ and was immediately grabbed by the importance of the problem Merlin were trying to highlight and address. According to the World Health Organisation a massive four million more health workers are needed in the developing world right now. There is clearly a huge inequality in health care across the world and the chronic shortage of health care workers is crippling many parts of the developing world. As a health worker myself this, more than anything, inspired me to take action and raise funds for Merlin. I realized that money donated through Cycling The 6 could be used to help train health workers and this could have a genuinely long term impact. You can read more about the Hands Up For Health Workers campaign here.

Nothing can replace witnessing Merlin’s work firsthand and meeting people whose lives are changes because of it. En route I hope to visit a few of Merlin’s projects. Understanding more about the impact that the money raised from my expedition is having will undoubtedly be immensely rewarding and a huge boost during a long and lonely expedition during which I’m sure I’ll be closely scrutinizing my own motivation and hoping that I don’t give up.

I’m utterly convinced by Merlin’s goals, ambitions and determination to redress health care inequality – a fundamental problem affecting world health. I hope that £50,000 - that’s a pound per mile - proves to be a modest ambition and I’m sure we can smash it. Have a look at the Merlin website and you’ll see chronicled true energy, true action and true contribution.

You can donate to Merlin through my Justgiving Page. Every penny will be donated to Merlin; no donated money will go towards expedition expenses. If you’d like to make a regular donation whilst I cycle please send an email including your name and address to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it   and I’ll post you a form. If Cycling The 6 has inspired you to take part in a challenge event for Merlin, then have a look at this page on the Merlin site and choose from a wide variety of exciting challenge events.

Examples of Merlin's work... how their intervention has changed the lives of millions around the globe   Your contribution... how it can make a real difference   Seven reasons to support Merlin   There’s more information on the Merlin website.