For many people, animals are just a way of life. Pets in particular bring pleasure and companionship to their owners and it is hard to imagine that anyone would want to hurt them. Just look at my wee girl Bea, above.

Unfortunately, not everyone feels the same way: cruelty to animals is all too evident with over 195,000 helpline calls taken in 2012 in Scotland alone. That's an increase of 55% in just four years, with the vast majority of callers reporting cruelty cases, animals in distress and seeking welfare advice.

I would like to help the SSPCA rescue animals in need and have set myself a fund raising challenge that shows how much I care. I will be abseiling the Forth Rail Bridge in October 2013 - for those of you that know me well, it will be obvious that overcoming my fear of falling (I'm not too good with heights either...) will be my biggest obstacle.

I'm going to do it. Please help me make it worth it.

Thanks,

David