Over the years, I've been fortunate to visit Nepal 14 times since 1994, for both trekking and climbing which also includes the summit of Everest from the North in 2001.

Nepal has given me some amazing experiences and the opportunity to make friends with some of the Sherpas living in Namche and Pangboche.

Doug Scott was the founder of Community Action Nepal and I was pleased to have met and spoken with him on several occasions, most latterly and regularly at the Penrith Climbing Wall.

I wish to help raise funds for the great work the charity does in helping some of the world's poorest communities in Nepal.

During my last visit to Nepal in 2017, my brother-in-law Jim Fowler passed away from Cancer and I'm grateful to his immediate family for delaying the service until I returned, he will be in my thoughts on those quiet moments on the trail and on the mountain.

I will be in Nepal from the 20th October, returning the 19th November attempting to climb Pumori by the south-west ridge.