I am taking on the National Three Peaks Challenge to raise money in support of the Urology Department at St James’s University Hospital in Leeds.

In April 2025, my wife Andrea was treated for kidney cancer and had to undergo major surgery to have one of her kidneys removed.

Kidney cancer is a cancer that starts in the kidney and, depending on its size and location, treatment can involve removing part or all of the affected kidney. For Andrea, this meant having the whole kidney removed.

It was an incredibly difficult and worrying time for us, but throughout Andrea’s diagnosis, treatment and surgery, we experienced first hand the skill, professionalism, care and compassion of the Urology team at St James’s.

When someone you love is told they have cancer, life suddenly feels very different. You place an enormous amount of trust in the people looking after them, and the care Andrea received was fantastic. Our family will always be grateful to the team who treated her and supported us through such a difficult period.

Taking on Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon)is my way of saying thank you and, hopefully, helping the department continue to provide outstanding care to other patients and families facing similar circumstances.

The National Three Peaks Challenge is going to test me physically and mentally, but when things get difficult I’ll have plenty of motivation to keep putting one foot in front of the other.

Thank you for supporting the challenge and, more importantly, for supporting the people who make such a difference when families need them most.

For Andrea, and with heartfelt thanks to the Urology team at St James’s.