You may recall that two years ago I attempted to swim the Gibraltar Strait between Spain and Morocco to raise funds and awareness for GamesAid, a games industry organisation that raises much needed cash for smaller children's and youth based charities. It's a total swim distance of 18km but just 5k from the coast and after 5 hours of being sick every 20 minutes, devastatingly I had to get into the boat.

Despite months of training it transpires that undertaking this kind of history making feat the same week as cycling through four countries in three days, with food poisoning, while endeavouring to launch a MMORPG across Europe the week after gamescom was overly ambitious/really stupid.

This year I am entirely focused on the swim. With a Strait and a Channel attempt under my belt I'm over my fear of open water. Having been stung 16 times in the face by a jellyfish these guys don't worry me a jot, my recent encounter with a swarm of sea lice has also rallied my sea fairing confidence and not once this year have I had to get out of the water because the sound of my own feet moving behind me was freaking me out.

I've been training for nearly three years now, martinis have been on rations for some time and the dangerous espresso kind have been replaced by the much more peppy/sporty breakfast variety.

No doubt about it, it's going to be tough. The same perils that faced me in 2012 could thwart me again, rough seas and unfavourable tides as the Atlantic hits the Med, Great White sharks and Man Of War jellyfish are all very real dangers. However each of these pales into insignificance compared to the daily, constant and seemingly insurmountable challenges faced and regularly overcome by the numerous children and young people that GamesAid supports.

So dig deep folks, not because it might be the last time I ask you or cash for a challenge, (I mentioned there was a risk of death/maiming right?) but because we're all incredibly fortunate in the lives that we lead and a donation from you, no matter how small can make a very big difference.