On the 15th October 2004, Gordon and I will be packing our paintbrushes, grabbing our tools and leaving the comforts of home behind as we set off to take part in Project Peru, a 12-day, hands-on, renovation and trekking challenge in aid of Mencap, the UK charity for children and adults with a learning disability.

Our challenge is to renovate the Rainbow centre in Urubamba, a centre dedicated to improving the lives of children with learning disabilities, in the Sacred Valley, just outside Cuzco. After renovating the centre we'll be hiking up to the historic site of Machu Pichu to complete our adventure.

The centre already provides basic facilities for over 40 children with special needs (autism, Down's syndrome, sight and hearing disabilities) but, with your help, we're aiming to build new facilities and improve existing ones.

Together Gordon and I are aiming to raise as much money as possible, so any help you can give us would be most appreciated!

Thanks for reading.

Lots of love, Laura and Gordon x Laura McCree and Gordon Whistance BBC Changing Rooms