Neil writes: From May-July 2008 I plan to make a journey from John o’Groats to Land’s End in memory of my wife, Linda, who lost her long fight against cancer in June 2007. I will be travelling in support of UK cancer charities Cancer Research UK, and Sobell House, Oxford, the hospice where Linda spent her last days.

What makes this different from other John o’Groats to Land’s End sponsored events is that it is not just a walk or cycle ride. I will be travelling by a combination of cycling, walking, canoeing and sea-kayaking pausing en route to climb Ben Nevis, Snowdon and Scafell Pike.

I would like to thank my brother Alan for agreeing to tow the caravan and offer logistical support. Also, my sister Katy as blogger-in-chief, my sister-in-law Susan as publicity manager, and all the other members of the family who will provide support, encouragement and hopefully cake.

Since Linda died in June and I decided to undertake this project I have been taking various courses and starting to train and plan the route in more detail.

Training so far has mainly involved finding and attending various courses interspersed with trips away. I initially needed to know whether I could physically stand up to days of activity. After my backpacking trip around the tip of Cornwall in July I walked 60 miles of the North Down Way with a friend and then had a week in Scotland, with two other friends, where we climbed the Ben Cruchan Horseshoe, the Ben Lawers round and the Ptarmigan Ridge. This convinced me that the walking was feasible.

I next spoke to a friend who is a very experienced white-water and sea kayaker and explained what I was planning. He felt that the project was not unrealistic and offered to help with the canoe training. I then started to look for sea-kayak instruction and was lucky enough to discover Sea Kayaking Cornwall, based in Falmouth. As my mother-in-law lives in Truro this is most convenient and I have had 7 days instruction so far with Jeff and Simon, and will be going down for more in the New Year. I have also attended a rolling course at Plas y Brenin and have more courses to book.

I took the opportunity whilst in Snowdonia to climb the north face of Tryfan and Bristly Ridge on the Glyders.

November has been a frustrating month with a whole series of mishaps. My golden retriever, Thai, has had to have an operation for a a cancerous lump. She seems well at the moment but we know it may come back. I have been suffering from a cold and have not been able to train as I would like. A long-standing shoulder problem is playing up. Over ten years ago I slipped whilst rock climbing and unfortunately Stuart, my son, failed to hold the rope and I hit the ground. Since then it been problematic. Recently I strained it whilst eskimo rolling in Cornwall and now each time I kayak or canoe it flares up. I am treating it with ice, heat and ibuprofen, and when it eases up I will try to build up the supporting muscles. Finally my mother-in-law fell and broke her hip on Friday, and I am waiting to hear if I will need to go to Cornwall this week to help out. I have cancelled a trip to the middle Wye today but did go canoeing yesterday with my sister Katy.

I am hoping that I will be able to attend a course at Plas y Brenin next week, but the family have to come first, and I will cancel if necessary

Neil