I completed The Big Sleep this morning - 16th February - and slept outside last night despite the best efforts of the British weather. After a cup of tea it was time to hit the sack at around 11PM in what turned out to be quite a muddy field. With a bivvy bag and a sleeping bag between me and the elements and a pair of earplugs to block out the noise of the rain I "settled down" for the night. I'm proud to say the only things in my little tent (pitched in case of really horrendous weather) were a change of clothes and a thermos of hot water. During the night the temperature dropped to around 3C which feels quite cold in the wind and rain - the snow confined itself to the surrounding hills. Overall, a humbling experience given all the preperations I made to survive one night - I can't imagine a whole winter without warmth.

Please, if you haven't donated already - help me push my total even higher.

I decided to support the Cumbria Community Foundatation Winter Warmth Appeal when I found out how many elderly people perish across Cumbria in winter.

Every winter around 300 elderly people in Cumbria die because of the effects of the cold weather. They have to choose between heating their homes and eating a meal. The Winter Warmth Appeal keeps older,Cumbrians safe and warm.

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. Please make use of the gift aid option too.