Ukraine has been close to my heart for over 25 years, and many of my most valuable friendships are with people I got to know in my nearly 10 years living there.

Our charity, formed in 2008, now supports some of these friends in their tireless efforts to look after those in great need, from work with vulnerable families and orphans to re-building homes in de-occupied towns for people who lost everything and who otherwise have no access to the levels of support required to get back on their feet.

On Saturday 4th April, I am doing a sponsored walk the 16 miles from my Inverness home to the Global Energy Stadium in Dingwall to watch Ross County play Airdrie. Every penny raised will literally be handed directly by me to these partners on an up-coming visit, to help maximise the impact of their life-changing work.

My beloved Staggies are playing on my birthday this year, and I thought "what better excuse to do the kind of fundraiser I have been thinking about for a while anyway?".

And so, I shall.