In October this year I will be setting out to fulfil a long held dream to climb a 6,000m mountain in the Himalayas. I have chosen Island Peak, just 3 miles from the summit of Everest and will be attempting this with the help of 4 friends and a professional climber and guide, Kenton Cool (Yes, that is actually his real name!)

Our trip will take a month and is part of an important training and reconnaissance exercise to help prepare one of our team to attempt Everest in April 2012. During his attempt he will also be taking 25 St. James’s Place Partners with him on a trek to Everest Base Camp.

So why are we all doing this? As well as being Olympic year, 2012 will be the 20th year of St. James’s Place and the St. James’s Place Foundation so it seems fitting to use this trip to raise important funds for our foundation.

Our objective as a team is to raise £500,000 for the St. James’s Place Foundation which supports vital charities in the UK and abroad who work to help under-privileged and sick children as well as supporting the UK Hospice movement.

Since inception in 1992 the Foundation has made grants totalling over £20m to these great causes and now raises over £2m each year from within our community.

This will be an enormous challenge, long days, high altitude, snow and ice and unpredictable weather all testing us to our limits and my request to you is to ask for your support in sponsoring my attempt.

I should emphasise that I have paid personally for the cost of the trip, training and equipment so that every penny that I raise will go direct to charity. Moreover, the directors at St. James’s Place have agreed to match every pound that you give.

Thank you so much more choosing to support me.