It has been a long-held ambition of mine to reach the dizzy heights of Everest Base Camp and, when the opportunity came to fulfil this dream and support this fantastic local charity at the same time, I was delighted.

Julia's House Dorset & Wiltshire Children's Hospices provide practical and emotional support for families caring for a child with a life-limiting or life-threatening condition, providing frequent and regular support in their own homes, in the community or at the hospices.  Each family they support is unique and so is the care they provide. When a family finds out that their child has a very serious medical condition, their world falls apart. Julia’s House exists to help these children and their families with the challenges they face on a daily basis. 

I recently visited the Dorset Hospice with my wife Debbie. It was a truly humbling experience and we both left in awe of the amazing support and care the team at Julia's House provide. We have been lucky; we have two healthy sons, rapidly becoming men and looking forward to what their futures hold. Others are less fortunate; no parent expects to live longer than their child, but for many of the families that Julia's House supports, this is the heart-breaking reality. 

I was astounded to discover that only 5% of the funding for Julia’s House comes from Central Government. The remaining 95% has to come from the likes of you and I. This made me feel even more motivated to do whatever I can to help Julia’s House continue with its vital and much needed work. I would really love to exceed my target, so please donate whatever you can to assist me with this; every penny really counts.

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity. So, it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity.