I am taking part in my first Ultra Challenge on Saturday 8th June this year. I’m aiming to complete a 42km (26 mile) hike across 1,200m elevation in the Lake District, in under 10 hours. As someone very new to hiking, this will be a huge challenge and any support (even just a like, share, or some words of encouragement!) is very much appreciated.

I am raising money for the British Heart Foundation in memory of my friend Issy, who passed away unexpectedly on the 12th March last year. Issy was a truly beautiful soul, full of kindness, and dedicated a lot of her time to charity work and helping others, so I felt taking on a charity challenge would be a fitting way to honour her memory. I have also personally been affected by heart related issues and I know that they can affect absolutely anyone no matter how fit and healthy you may be. I would urge everyone to be aware of good heart health and get checked if the opportunity ever presents itself.

Heart and circulatory diseases are the world’s biggest killers. They cause around a quarter of all deaths in the UK; that’s more than 170,000 deaths a year, or 480 each day - one every three minutes. That’s why the British Heart Foundation exists. By funding research, we can help find treatments and cures that could save lives.