For reasons I can’t quite explain, I’ve committed to climb Mount Kilimanjaro in December this year -and should reach the summit (hopefully) at dawn on the 15th!!

Having committed to do the climb I felt I should do it for charity. The charity I am walking for is The Rivers Trust - Rivers shape our landscapes and provide the foundations for our cities, towns and countryside. When they thrive, so do we.

And why, you ask, am I walking for this charity? It has been chosen by my very close friend, Samantha. We have been friends for a very long time. Sadly, Samantha lost her first husband in 2013, leaving her on her own with 2 very young children until she met the lovely Rick. Samantha and Rick got married this year and, instead of wedding presents, they asked for donations to charity.

I thought this was a wonderful opportunity to combine two things, my walk-up Kilimanjaro and a present for Rick and Samantha.

The Rivers Trust is Rick and Samantha’s choice because they live in Henley on Thames. Samantha fell in love with Henley and the River Thames when we regularly went to Henley Royal Regatta together during the 1980s and 90’s, and we also have some brilliant memories of Boat Race parties when Samantha lived close to the river in Putney. She now has a son who is a keen rower, in fact both her children enjoy leisure time on the river and the Thames plays a big part in their lives, so it is a very fitting charity.

So, can I ask you to make a small donation? Your donation will not only motivate me when it’s very cold and the air is thin, it will also celebrate Rick & Samantha’s wedding. Finally, your donation will help the Rivers Trust support grassroots conservation efforts across the UK and Ireland, create totally new wetlands, and support the fight against sewage pollution ensuring that rivers flow freely for fish.

Thank you.