I am turning 50 in July 2022, and with this in mind I have set myself a challenge!

This year I am looking to shear 50 sheep at as many farms up both the Ettrick and Yarrow valleys.

Some may say its a midlife crisis... but my reasons are many. I have now lived in the local area for 20+ years, and I feel that the Ettrick and Yarrow valleys are a small and close knit community. The local primary schools, Kirkhope and Yarrow, are the main hub of their own valleys and this is why I wish to raise money for each of them. Nearly every farmer up both valleys, and their children, have attended one of the local schools. My two youngest are both enjoying their time at Kirkhope.

Another reason that is that I wish to raise money for the Harris Trust. For those of you who do not know, the Harris Trust is a charitable organisation set up in memory of Harris Macdonell who tragically took his own life in August 2020. Its aims are to help improve the lives and mental health of neurodivergent young people. I freely admit that Harris' death affected me greatly. I knew Harris from a very young age with him being in the same year group as my oldest son. He was a tremendously talented sportsman and musician as well as being polite and courteous whenever you met him. There is more information on the work of the Harris Trust at www.harristrust.org