Recently in charity Category

I'm back and and, contrary to what Caroline suggested, am not sporting Bermuda shorts and flip-flops (and I certainly haven't got an impressive sun tan).

I've been contacted by Emma Hammond, a farmer's wife and photographer from Nidderdale.

She lost her mother-in-law four years ago just before the birth of her first daughter and decided she'd like to raise money for Breast Cancer.

She's producing a 2011 calendar 'Dales Men at Work' in aid of Breast Cancer Care and Breast Cancer Campaign.

She describes it as "a little risque but fun".

I'm going to resist cracking the obvious pancake-related jokes here (I'm sure you can fill in the blanks when it comes to a story about MPs and pancakes).

It this year's Parliamentary Pancake Race which was organised by the charity Rehab and saw MPs, Lords and political correspondents race with full frying pans around a circuit near Parliament.

Sponsored by British Lion eggs, it was officially started by chef Gary Rhodes. "I had thought managing a kitchen was a challenge, but it was nothing compared with overseeing the MPs, Lords and political correspondents racing round flipping pancakes and ensuring that everything didn't end up a complete dog's dinner," he says.

One of those taking part was Lord McNally (pictured left).

The MPs won, incidentally. You could say they battered their opponents. Sorry - I couldn't resist that one.

Best of luck to vets Jim Houlton and Paul Milnthorp who are setting off this weekend on their incredible rowing challenge.

Heat, seasickness, alternate bouts of two hours sleep and two hours rowing, powdered food and the possibility of being blown off course will be just a few of the challenges they'll face.

They're attempting to cover the 2,935 miles (2,500 nautical miles) from La Gomera in the Canaries to Antigua in 55 days (it could take as long as 90 days) in their boat called The Reason Why.

Best of luck to vets Jim Houlton and Paul Milnthorp who are setting off this weekend on their incredible rowing challenge.

Heat, seasickness, alternate bouts of two hours sleep and two hours rowing, powdered food and the possibility of being blown off course will be just a few of the challenges they'll face.

They're attempting to cover the 2,935 miles (2,500 nautical miles) from La Gomera in the Canaries to Antigua in 55 days (it could take as long as 90 days) in their boat called The Reason Why.

A farmer who broke his neck in a cycling accident is about to embark on a 280-mile ride across Vietnam and Cambodia.

Jonathan Pellow, from Albaston on the Cornwall/Devon border, has been confined to a wheelchair since he "went over the handlebars" of his bike 13 years ago.

The 42-year-old, who is paralysed from the waist down with limited hand and arm function, leaves the west country next week with his fiancée, Sarah White.

The pair plan to ride from Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam to the finish line at Angkor Wat temple in Cambodia.

"Being in a wheelchair, keeping fit is really important - I've never been one to go to a gym, and cycling is a really enjoyable way to keep active," says Jonathan. "Sometimes you need a challenge like this to keep motivated.

"Sarah and I hope to raise £3,000 for Regain, the charity which helped me after my accident. They bought me my first hand-cycle, and they are the only charity which support tetraplegics so I wanted to raise some money for them."

The week-long trip will see the couple cover up to 50 miles a day in hot, humid conditions.

Jonathan has been training regularly since June, fitting in rides on his three-wheeled hand-powered bicycle, with his job running two holiday cottages at Todsworthy Farm which have been converted to cater especially for people with disabilities.

You can sponsor them here.

Careful what you wish for, hey.

I was moaning the other day that I'd probably be swamped again with dozens of naked and semi-naked calendars put together by farmers and country people. Now I know these are usually raising money for good causes, but there's only so much flesh a man can look at!

But this year, the calendar count has been remarkably low. Hardly any women on ATVs or men on tractors clutching beacons to cover their modesty.

Wem Young Farmers Club has recently completed a charity bike ride from the top to the bottom of Shropshire.

The cyclists were raising money for two local charities: The Perry Riding School for the Disabled and Hope House children's hospice.

They set off early one morning from Whitchurch and - one puncture, a few slipped chains and a couple of falls later (not to mention aches and pains all round) - they arrived at the destination of Ludlow that afternoon. 

The 13 riders with a small entourage of helpers and a support vehicle covered more than 50 miles, dubbing the ride: 'Wem YFC Top to Tail Shropshire.'

"It was a tough slog but a brilliant experience and a superb challenge," says former club chairman Amy Hopley.

Well done to the guys and girls at Moulton College who entered into the spirit of Welly Week by holding a 'welly tractor pull'.

The students pulled a Massey Ferguson along the college road against the clock (wearing wellies, obviously).

Students were sponsored to take part in the event over the 100 yard stretch in teams of eight. The winning team was the group of lads from the year two mechanisation course.

Welly Week, organised by the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution, kicks off on Saturday. Loads of boot-related events are taking place in aid of this good cause. And this is Beckie, the week's mascot, sporting some suitable footwear (or should that be pawwear).

Naked men and vintage machinery.

They're not two things you'd think would go together well - if for no other reason than the health and safety risk of exposed and moving parts (if you see what I mean).

But it's a winning formula for the Keeves family, who once again are producing a semi-naked agriculturally themed calendar for charity.

The couple enlisted the help of their sons, nephews and others in the venture. Martine tells me they were all enthusiastic participants, but had to be well lubricated (I assume she means with alcohol).

It's a great idea and all in aid of a good cause: the 2010 Harvest Guys calendar is raising money for the Cystic Fibrosis Trust, Cancer Research UK and Warwickshire and Northamptonshire Air Ambulance.

You can get a copy for £6.50 by emailing Martine or, if you want to save £1.50 and have a good day out, you can buy it at their Working Vintage Harvest Open Day on September 5. Probably best to wear clothes to the event... 

Jon Huxley, an associate professor of Farm Animal Production Medicine at Nottingham Veterinary School, recently completed the John O'Groats to Land's End Walk.

The 37-year-old undertook the walk to raise money for Cancer Research UK, in memory of his mum, Gill, who died from leukaemia.

Jon completed the walk in 5 weeks and 3 hours, averaging 29 miles per day, six days per week.

Back from Somerset (more news on that later), so thanks to Adam and Caroline for looking after Field Day while I was away. 

I've come back to an overloaded inbox of emails - one immediately caught my eye, though. It's from Milly Wastie and she wanted to tell me about a skydive with a difference she'll be doing on September 5.

Milly, who's a regional officer with RABI, is planning the Northamptonshire skydive wearing wellies as part of the rural charity's Welly Week initiative.

Last year, Welly Week events included tractor pulls, Welly calendars, welly wanging competitions and a record-breaking welly conga. Events involved schools, colleges, young farmers clubs, businesses and country families. 

"I wanted to do something a bit different this year to help raise awareness and funds for the Welly week campaign," Milly tells me. "I will have my wellies strapped to me so they don't fall off!"

If you would like to support Milly, you can do so here.

Well done to land agent Jack Tavernor, farmer Matt Eardley, Rich Wakelin and Jonathan Brindley. They have completed their epic four marathons charity challenge.

Jack tells me it was "really really hard work" - which still sounds to me like a massive understatement. They've already raised £5,000 for St Luke's Hospice - if you'd like to contribute, you can do so here. 

Just been speaking to one of the two vets planning to row 2500 miles across the Atlantic. Good luck guys - it'll be an incredible achievement and Farm-Africa is a very worthwhile charity to support. Here are three more photos of them. If only the water was going to be this calm when they start their challenge...

Now this is pretty damn impressive. Two vets will be attempting to row 2500 miles to raise cash for the charity FARM-Africa.

You can't throw a stick (so to speak) without hitting someone doing a naked charity calendar in the countryside these days.

One of the very first, though, was the Women's Institute one - and, 10 years on, some of the same group of ladies have been at it again.

Nice buns, ladies...

Agriculture students at Kingston Maurward College have been spreading manure to help keep a life-saving service airborne.