Hello relatives and friends,

Many of you will know that we lost my sister Karen to cancer last year and that Alex was diagnosed with colon cancer. Thankfully, after an operation and six months of chemotherapy, she has had the all clear. There are also, however, many friends and relatives that we have lost, are currently undergoing treatment or are now in remission, who we think of every day.

When I completed my last charitable walking challenge, I said that it would be my last. However, it seems such a waste of an opportunity to raise funds as I continue to climb hills all around Scotland, having completed 2,809 and over 10,000kms in distance.

As such, I am writing to ask you to support me in the following challenges:

• Completion of the Marilyns (hills from sea level upwards with a 150m prominence)

6 to go of 1218 including the two sea stacs at St Kilda

• Completion of the full set of Scottish mountains which include the Munros, Munro tops, Corbetts, Grahams, Donalds, Donald tops and the Furths (Munros in England, Wales and Ireland)

28 to go with 15 in Wales and 13 in Ireland

• Completion of the Simms in Scotland (mountains of 600m plus with a 30m prominence)

1,666 completed of 2,191.

This really is a serious challenge with them being geographically dispersed all around Scotland and many being far beyond those that I have already climbed.

Having discussed this with Alex, we have decided that MacMillan Cancer Support will be our chosen charity and we hope that you will agree that this is a worthwhile cause.

Please give if you can but I have no expectations, anything will be something.

Thanking you all in advance.

Onwards and Forever Upwards.