I will face the biggest challenge of my life in June when I look to conquer Mount Kilimanjaro in aid of the Marie Curie Cancer Care charity.
I will be tackling the highest mountain in Africa alongside the likes of Sky pundit Chris Kamara, Coventry boss Aidy Boothroyd and Middlesbrough chairman Steve Gibson as part of the Football League's official charity.
And with Mount Kilimanjaro standing at 19,341 ft above sea level, it will not only be a tough physical and mental challenge, but an emotional one as well.
I agreed to do the climb to raise money in memory of my mother (Christina) who passed away a year ago, while my father (Malachy) is in the latter stages of cancer. And having been made so welcome in south west Wales since arriving with my family in the summer, I also wanted to represent the club and the people of Swansea who have been affected by the illness.
So basically, there are three reasons why I'm taking on the challenge. Firstly my mother used to do a lot of charity work in Ireland for Trocaire before she passed away and I made a promise to myself to carry on raising funds in her memory.
Secondly, my father is in the latter stages of cancer and I hope to do the climb before he passes away and raise funds in his name, while my mother-in-law and wife's uncle have also battled cancer.
Finally, it's for all the people in Swansea who have been affected by cancer. I'm representing Swansea City Football Club on their behalf.
I will be joined in the 34-strong team by football fans from 17 clubs across the UK, plus Aileen Trew (wife of Notts County Chairman, Ray), Daily Mail columnist Des Kelly, the BBC's Mark Clemmit and representatives from The Football League and Marie Curie Cancer Care.
The aim is to raise £500,000 to help the charity provide the equivalent of 25,000 hours of free nursing care for people in their own homes.
I've spoken to a number of people who have done the climb, including Tony Pulis at Stoke City. They've all said it was the most challenging thing they've ever done in their life.
I train quite regularly and I'm fairly fit, but I think I'm going to have to step it up ready for the climb in June.
The altitude, low temperature and occasional high winds will make it a difficult and dangerous trek up Mount Kilimanjaro.
Acclimatisation is essential and even then most experienced climbers suffer some degree of altitude sickness. In fact, all climbers will suffer considerable discomfort, shortage of breath, hypothermia and headaches, forcing a substantial number of them to abandon the attempt at a lower altitude.

So please give whatever you can afford to such a good cause.

Best As Always
Brendan

For more information about the partnership and how to get involved, please visit: www.football-league.co.uk/mariecurie.