COVID has had many victims. Within my sphere, our ICU in Chichester, we watched dozens and dozens of patients die from this disease, despite all our efforts - often feeling utterly helpless to alter their progress.

It's been horrendous at times, and horrendous to witness. Bad enough for us consultants, the older, somewhat gnarlier members of the ICU team.

But for some of our younger doctors, nurses, physios, and those others that came to support us, from theatres and elsewhere; those who stood by the bedside day in day out, for some of them it has been soul-destroying. Its a picture repeated across the entire country. The psychological damage, the rates of PTSD, of burnout, of depression and even of suicide have risen horribly. These have been the other victims of COVID, and they need our support. So here goes..

Zermatt to Verbier 2022 is a Ski-mountaineering challenge, following the route of the Swiss Army's 'Patrouille des Glaciers' race, www.pdg.ch, a 57.5km high-level route that stems from the Swiss-Italian border patrols of the second world war. Today, competitors on skis and skins face almost 4,400m of ascent, across snowfields and glaciers. I'm not racing, but completing that is my challenge..

As the senior ICU consultant in my hospital, and now at 59 years of age, it's been quite an effort training for this. But I'm doing it, to raise funds for two vital ICU Charities.

Firstly, for Doctors in Distress, despite its name a group providing a variety of supports for nurses, doctors and paramedics alike.

Secondly, for the Intensive Care Society, the organisation co-ordinating ICU research priorities and standards in the UK. All funds raised will be split equally between these two charities at the end of April 2022.

The 'Clap for the NHS' was a morale-booster back then for those who worked through a really difficult time; but these charities will support the unfortunate few who will continue to need more than that. 

It's a very worthwhile cause, so please give generously..  Thanks.