Hi,

I have never knowingly been without a bike. My grandparents and then parents owned a cycle shop in Manchester, England. Family life revolved around cycling.

Not only did they run the shop, they were heavily involved in the regional and national racing scene. Both grandparents were commissaires with British Cycling, and my mother remains so, being heavily involved with the Revolution Series and Manchester Track League.

However, it took me until I was 15 to realise that I wanted to do more than ride my bike – I wanted to race.

In no small part influenced by Great Britain’s performance on the road and at the Olympics, I started to race for my club Manchester Wheelers.

I soon joined my first racing team – Velocity WD40 – with whom I raced with as a junior until I was 18. Road racing was my first love and I have pursued the tried-and-tested avenue of continental racing as an Under 23 rider.

2016 will be my third year in Belgium and my first racing at the highly competitive professional Continental Level – just two levels below World Tour and the Tour de France.

For my first couple of years, supported by the Dave Rayner Fund, I have been racing with a smaller Belgian regional team.

My breakthrough race was the Tour of East Flanders, where I won the fourth stage with a solo breakaway – for which I received the prestigious Lewis Barry “Spadgers” Award in recognition of the most outstanding performance of the season.

This year is a big step up for me both in terms of performance and the level of support needed. I am confident that my progression will continue on the road, but would like to feel that I can afford to commit all my energy and focus to training and racing. This is why I am looking for this financial support.

Can you support me to reach for the sky? I hope so…