This August I plan to walk 138km along the Pennine Way from Horton in Ribblesdale in Yorkshire to Alston in Cumbria. I'm using the walk as an opportunity to raise both funds and awareness, to support the work of the National Deaf Children's Society.

NDCS is the leading UK charity supporting deaf children and young people, no matter their level of hearing loss or communication type.

Since I started at NDCS I have been really shocked to learn about the barriers that too many deaf children still face. Deaf children in Scotland are twice as likely to leave school with no qualifications as their hearing classmates, and only half as likely to go on to university. However, I have also been hugely inspired by deaf young people like Ciara McCarthy, and seen how the support of NDCS has helped them overcome the barriers they face.

One of the best things I've seen NDCS run are the adventure events, which provide opportunities for deaf children to meet each other (as so many haven’t met another deaf child before!) and take part in all kinds of indoor and outdoor activities. I am therefore seeking to raise the £480 it costs to send a child on an amazing experience like this, so that deaf children and young people can enjoy the kind of activities I love. And what better thing to use my Pennine Way walk to raise funds for! Please donate if you can.