Abi and her some of her school friends have signed up to participate in an adventure to Eswatini (formerly Swaziland) next summer after her GCSEs. She will be spending time working for the community, on a conservation project, and helping to construct a building for a local community, as well as learning about a remarkable culture. She has to raise around £3000 in order to participate, much of which will go to pay for the projects she will be working on.

As many of you will know, Abi is suffering from an as-yet-undiagnosed condition which means she is in constant pain and currently (and for several months now) has limited use of her right arm. She has had three MRIs and several hospital appointments in Oxford and London. The pain and restricted mobility is making it very hard for her to fundraise for herself.

As a result, we've decided to have a family attempt to raise some money for Abi. We're going to be going to the Lake District in a couple of weeks, and while we're there we'll be climbing Helvelyn together. It would be great if anyone wanted to sponsor the four of us (at least two of whom are.. .ahem... not natural fell walkers) to summit Helvelyn. In addition, I will kayak across and swim in the very deep and very cold Wastwater, my favourite of the lakes.