This November in aid of Julia's House, a Dorset and Wiltshire children's hospice, I shall be embarking on an expedition to Everest's base camp. 

I am taking on this challenge because I want to help families facing unimaginable heartbreak - the knowledge that their child may not live into adulthood. Julia’s House provides frequent, flexible care for children with life-limited or life-threatening conditions to give their parents a much-needed break. Amazingly, Julia’s House has to raise 95 per cent of the money it needs each year to run this vital service which is why I have chosen to support them. 

Being stuck indoors for so long has got me itching to take on a new challenge both mentally and physically, and what better way to break the stale trend of lockdown life than hiking to the base of the world's largest mountain!

Whilst I might not be planting my flagpole at its summit, base camp is at an incredibly dizzy height of 17,598 feet, 6 times the Burj Khalifa and inconceivably higher than the staircase to my flat! Unquestionably my biggest challenge to date, I look forward to the renowned Sherpa hospitality, breath-taking scenery, and of course muscle cramp. 

I will be trekking over 12 days, up to 8 hours a day to reach our goal, and with 50% less oxygen compared to at sea level, overcoming altitude sickness and fatigue are at the forefront of this challenge. Driving each stride I take is the knowledge that your kind sponsorship will make a life-changing difference to these families.

If you wish to see how the trip unfolds, please head over to my instagram account - @aburton_image - I would greatly appreciate the support along the way!

Let the training begin...