From 2nd to 11th October 2026 I'll be trekking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu with a group from the glazing industry (PiGs - People in Glazing) to raise money for a small but desperately needed charity: Harry's Pals.

Two years ago the same group took on Kilimanjaro, raising money for mental health support. This time the cause is even closer to home. Harry's Pals was founded by Hayley Charlesworth, and her husband Andy is one of my good friends - a man with an absolute heart of gold and one of the most generous people I know. We've shared plenty of miles together climbing Kilimanjaro and on the training hikes, camping out in the VW campers we've each converted, and I've seen first-hand the love and commitment he and Hayley pour into this charity.

Harry's Pals exists because of their son, Harry. When Hayley and Andy were told about Harry's diagnosis, they found there was simply no emotional support out there for parents facing every mum and dad's worst nightmare - being told their child has a life-limiting or life-threatening condition. So they built it themselves. The charity now provides free counselling, respite breaks and peer support to help families cope through unimaginably hard times. Just £40 funds a counselling session for a parent who needs it.

The trek itself is no small undertaking. Five days on Inca-paved paths and steps, climbing through cloud forest to Dead Woman's Pass at 4,200m, before descending to one of the most iconic sights in South America. The training is well underway - Scafell Pike in May, Ben Nevis in June and Llyn y Fan Fach in the Brecon Beacons just last week. The altitude will be a different beast altogether, but whenever it gets tough I'll be thinking of Harry, and of every family Harry's Pals helps.

Every pound goes directly to helping parents through the darkest days of their lives. Thank you so much for your support - it genuinely means a lot.