This year I am taking part in a Balkan Peak Challenge, summiting the highest mountains in Albania, Kosovo, Macedonia and Montenegro. The challenges involve a week of tough hiking at altitude with steep ascents/descents (approx. 4600m of ascent and 68km distance), 9 hours a day hiking and bare minimum facilities. This is a huge mental and physical challenge of stamina, and a particular personal challenge for me - as it requires getting over all those niggly injuries of last year and not picking up new ones!

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 futures. 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, so please donate generously!