Next Saturday, 9th August, my husband Mark will be taking on the Mourne Seven Sevens – a gruelling 29km endurance hike across some of the most rugged and beautiful terrain in the Mourne Mountains. The route includes all seven peaks over 700m, with a total elevation gain of 2,440m – a serious physical and mental challenge.

Mark is doing this to raise funds for Concern Worldwide, supporting their humanitarian appeal for Gaza. Concern is working tirelessly to provide urgent aid to those affected by the crisis – food, water, shelter, and medical care for those who need it most.

If you’re able to, any donation – big or small – would mean the world. Your support will help make a real difference in the lives of people facing unimaginable hardship.

Statement from Concern:

Our mission is to end extreme poverty, whatever it takes. Our teams on the ground are working together with people living in the most difficult situations, transforming lives, livelihoods and communities.

Each year our specialist teams work with 25 million people, across 25 countries, supporting people living on less than $2 a day, from war zones in Syria and Somalia to devastating floods in Bangladesh.

We are ready to respond to ensure that people's basic needs are met when disaster strikes.