Every year HSBC's IT department  organises a 'Memorial Challenge' as a fundraising event for a charity close to people's hearts. This year it's Clic Sargent who are the UK's leading Children's Cancer Charity.

This years challenge in the heart of the Lake District means I will be climbing 24 peaks, all over 2400 feet, in 24 hours of walking. 

The challenge will take in the classic Lake District peaks of Red Pike, Great Gable, Helvellyn, Great Dodd and Scafell Pike and is a total ascent of 4054m (13,300ft) over 51km (32 miles). 

As a comparison, this challenge is the equivalent of climbing approximately twenty  40 storey buildings, such as 8 Canada Square, or the statistic that really worries me is that it about 3 times the height of Ben Nevis or half the height of Everest !

Given those scary comparisons I've started training a bit more seriously now and am trying to do a minimum of 12 miles walking each weekend and when work permits 45 minutes in the gym a day.  

The motivation is that the money we raise for completing the walk is going to a very good cause..