For my birthday this year, I had decided to walk the British Three Peaks. But, along with countless others, I've had to put my plans on hold thanks to the COVID-19 lockdown.

Not wanting to miss out on my thighs burning hotter than chicken wings from hell, I've decided to do all three of the peaks in one day... at home.

Perhaps surprisingly, raising £2,500 for Shelter last year by walking 160 miles from London to Burnham-on-Sea didn't put me off bonkers physical challenges. So on Friday 10th April (not my birthday on 1st May, because time is of the essence), I am going to walk the equivalent distance of the cumulative heights of Scafell Pike, Snowdon and Ben Nevis on my stairs at home to raise as much money as possible for Age UK. 

Isolation and loneliness are too often the daily norm for many elderly people. With the UK in partial lockdown, most people have now had a taste of what that feels like, and we cannot abandon the elderly to the idea that they don't matter.

The height of the three peaks:

Scafell Pike: 978 Metres
Snowdon: 1085 Metres
Ben Nevis: 1345 Metres

Total Height: 3408 Metres
Flights of stairs: 1136

Most people will feel lonely at some point in their lives. It’s a deeply personal experience that - in most cases - will thankfully pass. Sadly, 2.65m older people feel they have no one to turn to for help and around 3.9m older people consider TV to be their main form of company. Donating to this page will help the national Age UK to continue providing vital services that offer companionship, advice and support for older people facing later life alone.