Alison, my wonderful wife of 42 years, died in Sue Ryder's Manorlands hospice in October 2022. One of the last things she said to me was "Please don't spend the rest of your life sitting at home with a book and a bottle of whisky, feeling sorry for yourself". So - I am not. Life has moved on and, although the memories never go away, I am very happy in a new relationship and focused on the future, not the past.

Having turned 70, I was looking for a new challenge to keep me fit and focused, and a friend suggested Mera Peak - at over 21,000ft, the highest trekking peak in the world. I have trekked in the Himalaya, Andes, Caucasus and other great mountain ranges, but Mera is way higher than I have ever been so will be a huge challenge. I'm doing it for me and paying all my own costs, but am always looking for ways to thank Manorlands for the superb care they gave to Alison - and to me - in her last days. Manorlands is such a wonderful place and needs our support to keep going - so if you would like to reward my pain and suffering on this epic trek (not to mention the 6 months of training), please give generously to this great charity. Thank you.