Melody is currently designing and will continue to update daily a new blog for Warren Smith and Lawrence Dallaglio on the Pyrenees Cycle Challenge currently underway. Keep up to date with their daily climbs over the Pyrenees, watch video clips and view photos, here

On Saturday 20th September Twickenham Stadium hosted a rugby union match featuring rugby stars from around the world aimed at raising over £1m for Help for Heroes, the charity that provides support for the Servicemen and women wounded in Afghanistan and Iraq. Help for Heroes is raising money to help improve facilities and services at the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre, Headley Court and the NHS Hospital, Selly Oak.

The match featured two teams, a Help for Heroes XV and an International Select XV who played the challenge match at the home of English rugby. Lawrence Dallaglio was acting as Captain respectively for the Help 4 Heroes XV team.

Also pllaying in the team was England team manager Martin Johnson which made it an appealing game not just for the extrmely good cause but for the chance to see these two stars once again at Twickenham together. To read more about the charity, click here.

There are over 360 species of sharks in the world's oceans and only a handful of these would ever bite a human. It is thought that sharks don't even like the taste of human flesh but as they don't have hands they unfortunately use their mouths to investigate. The Great White is one of the handful of sharks that may bite or attack a human and is the most feared predator of the Ocean. It is an awesome creature and a fascinating species. It doesn't get disease, it is the king of the ocean's food chain, it is most terrifying to look at and after the release of Jaws, scared many people out of the water.

Myself and Warren have a great fascination and respect for the Great White and have watched almost every documantary there is. These would include the films of Rodney Fox who has done much research, put in massive conservation efforts and made many films on the Great White.

It was Warren's Birthday on 8th September and I started to research on the internet for unusual ideas of what gift to get him. I came across the website of Rodney and Andrew Fox www.sharkfoundation.net. The Fox Shark Research Foundation is 'endeavouring to expand our understanding of great white sharks, using the latest technologies and methods of research and working in collaboration with other scientific institutions'.

I also discovered that the foundation had a few satellite tagged sharks that you can adopt. That was my Birthday Present idea sorted! I adopted Warren a Great White shark called Guy. You can see information on Guy here. What's more exciting is that I discovered that the Fox's run expeditions. If you have a keen interest in Great White Sharks, then this is definitely a site to check out. If anyone know's what they're doing, these guys do.

We intend taking our first plunge with the Great White in Cape Town in November before we start the ski season again. Then hopefully join the Fox crew on an expedition next year. If there is one thing that would give me the greatest excitement to photograph, it would be the Great White, so watch this space!

Julie has been skiing with us for many year's and has become a very special friend who certainly deserved the best Birthday party anyone could ever have. On 6th September she had her 40th Birthday Party which was a 1940's' Diamonds and Dandies' glam evening. No expense was spared on this once in a lifetime event and it was truly one of the best parties I have ever been to. To add to the experience, Warren and I who were at that time up on glacier skiing in Saas-Fee in the Swiss Alps, a particular busy time, were flown in and out of Guernsey on a private jet. I could certainly do with this kind of thing more often!

The party setting was beautiful and impressive. A marquee of marquee's was perched on a cliff in Guernsey. The wind was fierce and it did cross my mind if we would stay perched up on that cliff or not. Luckily after a few glasses of champagne that thought passed. There must have been three areas in the tent (one being a very big kitchen). There was an area in which we were served orderves, drank champagne, met each other, drank from the ice features and revelled at how amazing a marquee could look and how fantastic the glamour was within it! Julie looked absolutely gorgeous!

Then, after an hour or so, the marqee was opened fully to reveal the other area - a glamourous dining area with stage, dance floor, grand piano, band, you name it. The evenings entertainment was incredible, firstly with Marylin Monroe sitting on the Grande Piano singing some beautiful songs. Her voice was most amazing. Next appeared a quarted of charming young men who sang songs from the 40's and moved around the room singing to all the ladies at the tables creating some spice and fun. Then finally to continue the rest of the evening was what I think must have been a 10 piece band of musicians. They were absolutely fantastic and played covers that got everybody on the dance floor...and when I say everybody, I mean everybody. I have never seen a party where pretty much the entire guest list was on the dancefloor. It was amazing.

Anyone of you who know Stu 'Bob the Builder' will know that there is nobody that can work the floor like him. Highly entertaining!! All in all a fantastic evening and a great reunion for the original Warren Smith Ski Academy summer skiiers. Thank you Jules for the most amazing evening. It will certainly never be forgotten!!!

Fundraiser & Launch Party

The Pyrenees Challenge Launch Party will not only be a great send off for the brave team but also has the goal of raising £50k for the Bliss Charity. The evening will be hosted by Lawrence Dallaglio who will be joined by his cycle team mates Damien Hopley, Warren Smith and many more from the sporting world and the Gondola Group.

You can also be there to support the evening and join in with the fun. Tickets are priced at £75 for the evening. The event is taking place in the London's Kensington Olympia Pizza Express.  Included in your ticket is as much Pizza and Beer as you can handle for the whole evening.

When

Thursday 18th September

7.00 for 7.30pm

Pizza & Beers (Unlimited...)

8.30pm

Bliss Auction hosted by a surprise celebrity auctioneer

8.45pm

Dancing until the pizza and beer runs out!

1.00am

Carriages

Dress Code: Smart Casual

Ticket Price: £75

For further information please contact:

Joe Gowing at the Gondola Group on 01895 263122 or by e-mail

Please mention 'Warren Smith Ski Academy' when purchasing your tickets and also inform the Academy that you have booked so Warren can meet you on the night.