On September 12th, I’ll be lowering myself down the front of King’s College Hospital — all 100 feet of it — to raise money for the hospital that looked after our daughter Margot.

Recently, Margot needed emergency abdominal surgery and spent nine days at King’s. Nine days of watching a team of surgeons, doctors, nurses and support staff care for her with a level of skill, patience and genuine kindness that we will never forget. They didn’t just treat her — they looked after all of us. We came home with our girl, and we know how lucky we are to be able to say that.

So when I saw the chance to abseil down the very building where it all happened, I signed up before I could think too hard about it.

Here’s the thing though. People who know me know I love an adrenaline stunt — I’ve thrown myself off and down mountains and lived to tell the tale. But I have a confession: when I was 12, I was the only one in my entire Girl Guides group who bottled it on the tiny abseiling tower. Every other girl went over the edge. I did not.

So this is genuinely terrifying for me. I’m not being brave in a casual way. I’m going back to face the one challenge that defeated me, except this time it’s 100 feet of hospital rather than a wobbly wooden tower. If Margot can be as courageous as she was for nine days, I can manage a few minutes on a rope.

Every penny raised goes to King’s College Hospital Charity, supporting the teams and equipment that make care like Margot’s possible for other families.

Thank you for helping me say thank you. (And please donate — the more you give, the harder it is for me to back out this time.)

Becky x