Well here we go... 

I'm trying to raise an ambitious £3500 by the 31st December 2011 for the wonderfully inspiring charity the Make-A-Wish Foundation. As my way of supporting their brilliant work I have decided to participate in an exhilarating, exhausting and ever-ambitious trek around the Annapurna Trail in the Himalayas. The foundation works hard to make wishes come true for some truly incredible children who are battling life-threatening illnesses. 

This trip is designed to be very challenging for its participants and even people of top-level fitness are expected to struggle at times. Throughout the challenge I will encounter high altitude, steep terrain, long days and varied weather - I will be pushing myself to my absolute limit... training has already commenced! 

Please remember (if you are a UK taxpayer) to agree to donating Gift Aid, it won't cost you a penny and raises up to an extra 25% for the charity.

* Make-A-Wish has granted more than 6,800 magical wishes over 25 years. They know that their wishes transform lives!

* There are 20,000 children and young people living in the UK with life-threatening illnesses.

* This year alone 1,200 children will turn to the charity to have their special wish granted. They want to grant a wish to every one of these.

* Make-A-Wish needs to raise £5.5m in 2011 to achieve this.

For many families the Make-A-Wish memory can be the last happy memory they have of their child having fun in a magical world, surrounded by family and friends – rather than memories of days and weeks of painful treatments and hospitalisation. 

Thank you all for your kind support. Please donate generously for this wonderful cause and wish me luck for my training and trip.

Carrie xxx