It's the evening before the start of the challenge and we are all packed and ready to start this journey together. The challenge has even reached the national airwaves with a mention on the Sara Cox show this afternoon.

I got to know Pete at New College in 1996.  A changing of the guard, as Pete completed his final yesr while I started my first year. We raced together in the summer of 1996 and it's great to have 4 of our crew together in his memory.

I remember Pete as the smiley one. Always kind, positive and above all welcoming to me as the new kid on the block.

I'm lucky thst the memories didn't end there. In one of those small-world coincidences Pete's close friend Nathalie is married to my older brother Olly, who both join our merry gang tomorrow. I therefore had the pleasure to see Pete again a number of times over the last 25 years.

So off we set. Friends and family. And it's a privilege to be doing this in Pete's honour.