This year I will be taking on my first Hiking Challenge in support of St Giles Trust. Over the course of a week I will be in the Balkans, summiting the highest mountains in Albania, Kosovo, Republic of North Macedonia and Montenegro. The challenge involves tough hiking through remote areas with steep ascents & descents which include 9 hours per day hiking with some scrambling! There will be bare minimum facilities, with overnight stays in shepherds' huts and wild camping. I expect that this will be a huge mental challenge and physical test of stamina.

I am taking part in this challenge to raise funds and awareness for St Giles Trust, a charity who aim to empower young people to stay safe and make positive choices for their future. 50,000 children in the UK are exploited by gangs every year and St Giles Trust do fantastic work to educate children on the dangers of gangs, exploitation and knife crime.

Nobody is exempt from the dangers of knife crime and street violence, no matter which city or area you live in. £8.34 can be saved to the taxpayer for every £1 invested in peer-led services, so please donate generously.