In September I’ll be tackling one of the biggest challenges of the natural world, and one of my biggest ever personal challenges, as I spend over a month at sea in the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race. I’m raising money for Child Action Nepal (CAN), a charity very close to my heart.

CAN works tirelessly to support children at an orphanage in Nepal, one of the world’s poorest nations. From the day the children join they become part of a family. They are loved and looked after until they finish their studies and find a job, which allows them to be financially independent – although they remain part of the family for life.

The children are given a good education and learn life skills to help them become independent and thrive in their future. Some are studying for a Masters degree at university. I first became involved in this amazing charity after I was asked to perform plastic surgery on one of the orphans called Kalpana, who had been badly burned when she was seven years old. I brought Kalpana back to the UK and operated on her at St George’s Hospital. This experience inspired me to join the Board of Trustees in 2016. I visit the orphanage in Kathmandu every year and I also provide teaching and surgery at a specialist hospital.

I’ve been an avid sailor all my life, but this race is an endurance test like no other. I will join a crew of all ages and experience in a record-breaking 40,000 nautical mile race around the world on a 70-foot ocean racing yacht. I’ll be part of ‘Team Guy’ on the first leg of the race, travelling 7,250 miles from London to Uruguay. It is the culmination of more than two years’ planning, intensive training and preparation. I’ve always dreamed of crossing the ocean and I’m nervous, but also extremely excited, to have the opportunity to realise this goal and to raise money for CAN to help fund its vital work.

Thank you for your support. You can stay up to date on my progress and watch my video blogs from the high seas on the DRG Plastic Surgery website: https://www.drg-plasticsurgery.co.uk