As I may not be able to do the cycling challenge I was planning to do this year, I have decided instead to do a different challenge more appropriate to lockdown, and climb the height of Everest (8848m) by walking up and down my stairs. I will need to walk up and down them 3404 times to achieve this, walking about 18 miles in total. I am aiming to complete the challenge in under 24 hours; I estimate it will take me at least 18, probably longer. It will be pretty tough both physically and mentally!

By doing this challenge, I am hoping to raise money for Barking Mad Dog Rescue (BMDR), a UK-based charity who rescue dogs in Romania and for whom I volunteer. Like everyone, they have been affected by COVID-19 - unfortunately dogs are not able to travel from Romania to the UK to be rehomed at the moment, and abandonment of dogs in Romania has increased, so the shelters in Romania are struggling to deal with more dogs on top of the hundreds that were already there. Any donations you can give would be greatly appreciated by both me and the rest of the BMDR team. For more information on BMDR see their website: https://www.barkingmaddogrescue.co.uk/

The challenge will take place at some point during lockdown, when it isn't a sunny day so I don't feel quite so bad spending the whole day inside walking up and down stairs. I will post on Facebook to let people know when it is happening, and will post updates on the day itself.