On 5 September, I'll be stepping backwards over the edge of Northampton's iconic Lift Tower and abseiling 418ft (127 metres) to raise money for Harry's Rainbow.

As a Milton Keynes City Councillor and the city's Mental Health Champion, I believe that supporting mental health also means supporting people through grief and bereavement. The loss of a loved one can have a lifelong impact, particularly on children and young people, which is why I wanted to support Harry's Rainbow through this challenge.

That's why I'm proud to be supporting Harry's Rainbow.

Harry's Rainbow is the only dedicated charity in Milton Keynes supporting children and young people who have been bereaved of a parent or sibling, providing friendship, therapeutic support, activities and opportunities to create positive memories during some of life's most difficult moments.

The need for this support is far greater than many people realise.

- Around 26,900 parents die every year in the UK, leaving dependent children behind.

- That's 127 children every single day experiencing the death of a parent.

- By the age of 16, around 1 in 20 young people will have experienced the death of one or both parents.

- Closer to home, around 100 parents die each year in the Milton Keynes area, leaving an estimated 170 dependent children who may need support.

As someone who has experienced bereavement myself, I know there are no words that can take away the pain of losing someone you love. But some people and organisations can make sure no child has to face that journey alone. Harry's Rainbow does exactly that.

This challenge is a personal one too. The last time I abseiled was at secondary school in 2003. Back then, I didn't have a fear of heights. Somewhere along the way, that fear has slowly developed. Standing on the edge of a 418ft tower and taking that first step backwards is something I am genuinely nervous about.

To put that into perspective:

- 418ft is roughly the height of a 40-storey building.

- You would need to stack around 25 double-decker buses on top of one another to reach the same height.

- The tower is around twice the height of Big Ben's Elizabeth Tower and more than four times the height of Nelson's Column.

- It is also the world's tallest permanent abseil tower, making it one of the most unique charity challenges in the UK.

But the fear I'll feel for a few minutes at the top of that tower is nothing compared with the challenges faced by children who have lost a parent or sibling.

If facing my fear can help Harry's Rainbow continue supporting bereaved children and their families, then every step over that edge will be worthwhile.

Thank you so much for your kindness and support.