On 3rd April 2023 I became suddenly very unwell. I thought I had flu symptoms but within 30 hours I had been admitted to the care of Perth Royal Infirmary diagnosed with a very serious staphylococcus infection attacking my heart and spine and little toe! I was transferred to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary and on 15th April 2023 underwent open heart surgery to replace my infected aortic valve and save my life. What followed was three months of the most amazing care from the NHS in Edinburgh and Perth and from my family and friends who never gave up badgering me to get better! I have so many people to thank for saving my life and for pushing me to recover fully. You know who you are and I am so grateful to you all.

So one year on I want to take on a huge challenge and hopefully, through your generosity, raise money for Sepsis Research FEAT to raise awareness of this dangerous condition. During the month of May I am going to climb the equivalent height of Mount Everest summiting on my birthday on 29th May.

My challenge is to climb (and descend) my favourite local hill four times a day for 24 days during May achieving an elevation of 1200ft each day with a final 300 ft summit climb on my 66 th birthday on the 29th May. If I succeed the total feet climbed will just exceed the current measured height of Mount Everest ( 29032 ft). I have started training and am on track to achieve my goal. My target is to raise £2900 for this important charity and I hope you will help me do that. Remembering all the people who have lost a loved one to Sepsis x

Sepsis Research FEAT is a registered charity (SC049399) and the UK’s only sepsis research charity.

Sepsis accounts for around 50,000 deaths in the UK every year - that's more than breast and bowel cancer combined.

We don't understand enough about sepsis and the biological processes that can lead to serious illness or even death. That is why we urgently need to increase funding:

- to raise awareness of sepsis

- for research: to understand the processes that lead to sepsis, to design effective treatments for it & to help save lives.