My wife Myfanwy died from melanoma in 1999. Melanoma is one of the Diseases of the 21st Century: it affects 1 in 50 in Britain, with a very high death rate, and the incidence is doubling every ten years.

We set up a Charity in her name, the Myfanwy Townsend Melanoma Research Fund (www.melanoma-fund.co.uk) to find a cure and raise awareness.

I've done lots of fundraising treks: now comes The Big One, Twelve Months to Raise a Million. A million sponsors, a million pounds.

This is a trek with our small team from rim to rim of the Grand Canyon on September 10th and 11th.

We start at the North Rim at 9,000ft, and descend the North Kaibab Trail to the Colorado River at 2,000ft where the temperature can reach 130F. We climb the Bright Angel Trail, through The Furnace (even hotter) and the forty switchbacks of Jacob's Ladder to the North Rim at 8,000ft. It's about 24 miles trekking, with an up and down of 2.5 vertical miles.

Twelve Months to Raise a Million will fund practical research projects for the Royal Marsden Hospital and Cancer Research UK.

We really value your support and sponsorship: click on to Million Pound Target on the website and you can follow our progress in my diary. Thank you for visiting my fundraising page. Please dig deep and sponsor me online.

Donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to sponsor me: Myfanwy Townsend Melanoma Research Fund will receive your money faster and, if you are a UK taxpayer, an extra 28% in tax will be added to your gift at no cost to you.

So please sponsor me now!

Many thanks for your support

Harry Townsend.