In September 2016 I lost my dad, Donald, to Mesothelioma - a cancer that developed after his years of exposure to asbestos in the workplace. Like the Myeloma that took my mum almost exactly a year earlier, Mesothelioma was a form of cancer I knew little about, but one which I now realise affects so many people. Please support my personal hillwalking challenge to raise money (and hopefully awareness) about the work that Mesothelioma UK do to help patients and families, and conduct research to hopefully, one day, stamp-out this terrible illness.

The Donalds are mountains over 2000 feet high in the Scottish Lowlands, named after their original compiler, mountaineer Percy Donald. There are currently 89 listed Donalds, and a further 51 Donald 'Tops' (subsidiary peaks) - to officially complete a full round, of these mountains, it is expected that all 140 summits are reached. 

At the start of this challenge in August 2019, I have already climbed 13 Donald summits in the course of my hillwalking activity, and I have set myself the challenge of completing the list by 15th November 2019, which would have been my dad's birthday. 

This is a significant personal and physical challenge, and one which I expect to complete over the course of no more than 10 individual walks/trips. All trips will be walked solo and unsupported, and overnight stages will involve wild-camping or bivvying on the hill. 

Throughout the course of challenge, I will be updating progress and writing walk reports on my page at www.walkhighands.co.uk/blogs/Christo1979 as well as sharing a map of climbed hills on this page and on social media. 

Thank you for your support.