Actually, it's 5895m and yes, I am really doing this. Together with 50 colleagues, in late June 2015, I am going to climb Africa's highest peak. Apparently it takes 6 days to go up but only 2 to come down (maybe there is a giant slide?)

To encourage your donations, I am taking a Kickstarter (TM) approach to fundraising... so don't forget to look below to find out what you get for your dosh!

I am raising money for three fantastic causes - Mind, Prostate Cancer UK and Alzheimer's Society. Of these, Prostate Cancer is especially important to me. My family has been affected by this disease and I know how important early detection can be. Your donations will go towards funding a Search and Rescue programme to help reach 300,000 of the most at-risk men in the UK.

This trek is a massive undertaking for me and so is the preparation. It means a 2 hour training walk twice a week and a 3-4 hour trek most weekends. I really need your support, be it company on my weekend training hikes, babysitting services or packs of Compeed blister plasters!

So to the Kickstarter-style rewards:

Donate £10 - You can add a song of your choosing to the playlist for my training walks. Any song.

Donate £25 - Give me your address and I'll send you a postcard from the trip. Plus - pick a song, as above.

Donate £50 - I'll walk a 5 mile route of your choice (within the M25) and/or wear an animal mask of your choosing while doing it - photographic evidence will be uploaded here. Plus - pick a song and get a postcard, as above.

Donate £100 - All of the above, plus: Send me a message of 120 characters or fewer and I will hold it up at the top of the mountain for a picture.

All donations gratefully received and all monies go to the charities concerned. I am funding the cost of the trip myself so no, this isn't just an excuse to get you all to pay for a holiday! I am really excited (and somewhat daunted) by the challenge ahead - let the adventure begin...