Towards the end of January I will be heading across to Tanzania to try my best at summiting Kilimanjaro. The highest free standing mountain in the world (5895m).

I wasn’t too sure about asking for donations, especially at this time of year, until a parent in the hospital this week asked me if I was doing it for charity and I explained my worries.

“Why not?” they asked, “we’d sponsor you”.

And that’s just it isn’t it? In a situation too difficult to even begin to imagine how they may be feeling and they still wanted to show their support for a challenge I have chosen to do.

So this Christmas, while we are all busy with festive preparations, parties and buying our own loved ones presents, I’m asking you to stop and think of those families spending what should be a magical time for children, in hospital.

If you are able, please offer your support through the amazing Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity who work hard to make the pain of being in hospital that bit easier for these patients and their families not just at Christmas but all year round.