Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page! The National Literacy Trust (NLT) does some really important work with children and young people to give them the best possible start in life, and improve the opportunities available to them in their adult life.

When I decided to work in publishing, and with children's books in particular, having a hand in creating books that children would love was always a key reason for this career being so appealing. Anyone who knows me knows I like a ridiculous outdoorsy challenge, so for this excellent cause I thought why not jump in the deep end?

The Arctic Challenge is a four-day endurance expedition in northern Sweden, inside the arctic circle. The accommodation is a basic base camp lodge with no electricity, internet or home comforts.

We'll spend 4 days in sub-zero temperatures with a maximum of 5 hours of daylight per day, and undergo various endurance challenges during this time. This will include:

• An orienteering challenge finishing on a frozen lake, boring hole through which to fish for dinner

• 35km dog sledding time trial

• A gruelling 20km cross-country skilling race, which is going to require some serious training!

This is all in aid of supporting the NLT, keep reading for some information about the work they do and the problems they're tackling. There's a couple of videos attached also, which may help to better illustrate the work they do.

THE COST OF LITERACY CRISIS

• The number of children who don’t own a book is 1 in 5 (20%) 5-8 year olds, and this number is rising.

• Last year, over 185,000 5 year olds in England started school without the communication and language skills they need to thrive.

• Low literacy has lifelong consequences. Not only affects learning, confidence and wellbeing during their early school days, but means children are MUCH more likely to struggle with their GCSEs and end up unemployed by their 30s.

• The disadvantage gap in early literacy skills is costing England over £800 Million a year

• 9 children in every single reception class is already falling behind

HOW THE NATIONAL LITERACY TRUST CAN HELP

• There are already project and people placed in disadvantaged communities supporting families, filling libraries, training teachers and helping school leavers into their first jobs.

• Donations will go to expanding this vital work to change more stories in priority areas.

• Where you were born and how wealthy your parents are shouldn’t dictate where you end up.

• Empowering more children to shape their own future.