This summer I am taking on one of the biggest challenges of my life to support STV Appeal 2013.

The unique expedition will see me swimming and running the breadth of Scotland, following the scenic Highland Boundary Fault Line from the Isle of Arran to Stonehaven, before finishing the epic journey in Aberdeen.

Hoping to complete the challenge in only 10 days, I am set to swim across the open sea three times and also across Scotland’s biggest loch.  The 210 mile route will also include consecutive ultra-marathon runs, over rough terrain and mountain climbs, making it one of my most difficult and demanding adventures so far.

Along the way, I will stop to meet with people, schools and local community groups who have all done their bit to raise funds for STV Appeal.

I have never been a strong swimmer and only ever run as a small part of my expedition training, and so this mammoth Highland Line Challenge is genuinely terrifying. As a major charity challenge for the STV Appeal, I wanted to create something which was a real test, and that will capture the imagination of supporters across Scotland.

In truth I don’t yet know if I am capable of this, but I am putting my absolute all into training and have a great team in support. After the scare of capsizing mid Atlantic, I never imagined I would be committing to an open water 10km swim! But it will all be worth it when we can raise as much as possible for Scottish children who are living in poverty.

So please dig deep and donate now.