Next summer, I will be trekking across the High Atlas Mountains in Morocco with the University of Birmingham. The trek is in aid of Marie Curie - the UK's leading end of life charity, here to support people through all aspects of dying, death and bereavement. During the trek, I will summit the highest peak in North Africa, Mount Toubkal, which stands at 4167m above sea level (half the height of Everest).

Every 5 minutes, someone in the UK dies without getting the care and support they need. Marie Curie fights for a world where everybody gets the best experience they possibly can at the end of their lives. Their nurses, hospices, and support line officers are on the front line to help people, along with their family and friends, through their final years, months, days, and hours of life. Just £20 pays for a Marie Curie Nurse to look after someone with terminal illness for one hour, in the comfort of their own home.

I have lost three family members to cancer and my mum is a cancer survivor. It is charities like Marie Curie who make a huge difference to the quality of life of those living with terminal illness, as well as their family and friends. Marie Curie never stopped during the pandemic, and they have continually adapted to make sure people with a terminal diagnosis are still receiving the same high quality of care during such a turbulent year. The funds raised will go a long way in allowing Marie Curie nurses to carry on providing 1-1 care with appropriate PPE, hospices to remain open with measures in place, and support line workers to be there for those who are vulnerable and shielding. Cancer's a bitch, but end of life support is crucial, so let's raise money and push for more people to die in the comfort of their home and have the most positive experience possible at the end of their lives.

In loving memory of Auntie Elaine, Uncle Kevin and Granny O'Doherty x

For my mum Kate and for Alex x