In a rush of blood to the head I have signed up to participate in this year's Vertical Rush challenge, a tower running event up the City of London's first skyscraper, Tower 42 (aka NatWest Tower). I will be busting a lung (or two) at 7.30am on 1 March in the first wave of participants before turning back into a mild-mannered tax adviser and doing a day's work.

There are at least three good reasons to spread a little happiness in aid of this event:

1. You support the work of Shelter, the UK's leading housing and homelessness charity and want them to keep up their good work.

2. You hate Malcolm and quite like the idea of inflicting some pain, while remaining on the moral high ground as it is 'all in the name of chairty'.

3. You like Malcolm and want to motivate him to put in a good time and come back in one piece.

You may of course be in more than one category at the same time, in which case you should maybe give twice as much... 

So please dig deep and donate now. Thanks! :)