We've successfully completed the trek (you can read more about how it went here), but we're still fundraising until 1 June, so it's not too late to make a donation! Many thanks to all of you who have already supported me in raising funds to help the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust with their unique work in the north-east of India.

Durrell is one of the charities my family and I have supported for many years (including through The ROB Trust) because of their impressive work on various projects around the world, saving endangered species and protecting their habitats.

Once thought to be extinct, the pygmy hog is the world's smallest pig and one of the most threatened mammals on Earth. Living only in the tall grasslands of Assam, they were rediscovered in 1971 when a group was found in a neighbouring tea plantation sheltering from a grassland fire. Since then, Durrell have been working in Assam to save the pygmy hog from extinction through captive breeding and release programmes as well as grassland restoration and management.

As part of this, I signed up to participate in the "Founder’s Trek" in March/April 2025, celebrating 100 years since the birth of the charity's visionary founder, Gerald Durrell. This included hiking at altitudes of up to 4,200 metres and camping near Kanchenjunga, the world's 3rd highest mountain. It also allowed me behind-the-scenes insight into Durrell's vital wildlife conservation work - including the chance to meet the pygmy hogs as well as the passionate team saving them from extinction.

I needed to be in good shape to complete the 60 km trek at those altitudes, so I was testing my abilities after starting my fund-raising (see photos below):

- In August I visited Durrell's Dalnacardoch Estate in Scotland (together with some family members and friends), including to climb two Munros - Càrn na Caim (941 metres) and A' Bhuidheanach Bheag (936 metres). It was a grand day out, including meeting Kevin and Sam from the Durrell team (who drove us to the point near Sronphadruig Lodge from where we started our walk).

- In September I completed the Hagelandse 101 - a 101km walk through the Flemish countryside (low-level altitudes at least!) - within the 24 hour time limit. I've never experienced such big and painful blisters on my feet. My efforts to reach the finish line were helped by knowing I had already reached 60% of my fund-raising target of £5,050 (€6,000) from people who were expecting me to complete this Belgian challenge.

- I continued to attend regular outdoor fitness training (cardio, strength and conditioning) in Tervuren Park with my bootcamp friends, now rebranded as the Crunch Bunch! And I started the New Year by signing up to do Small Group Training and Strongman Training at the Dan Hunter Transformation Centre.

PS Please watch this video to meet Panna the pygmy hog:

On our walk in Dalnacardoch (6 August):

On the Hagelandse 101 (6-7 September):

In the gym: