I’m Rowena, a UK based nurse, advanced clinical practitioner and lecturer in nursing. I've spent my career caring for others and helping to educate the next generation of healthcare professionals. Now I’m setting my sights on an extraordinary personal challenge: climbing the highest mountain on each of the seven continents and raising £15,000 to support the work of the RCN foundation.

To date, I have successfully summited:

Mount Kilimanjaro 5895m (highest mountain in Africa) January 2024

Mount Elbrus 5642m (highest mountain in Europe) August 2024

Aconcagua 6961m (highest mountain in South America) February 2025

This April, I am travelling to Nepal to take on Mount Everest (8849m), highest peak of Asia, and indeed the world!

This will then leave me with the final three mountains:

Carstensz Pyramid 4884m (Indonesia)

Mount McInley/Denali 6190m (North America)

Mount Vinson 4892m (Antarctica)

For me, this challenge is about more than physical endurance. It's a way to shine a light on the compassion and strength that nurses , midwives and healthcare assistants show every single day and help them through the challenges many of them face every day. They are the backbone of our health system and are currently facing challenges like never before.

That's why I'm raising money for the RCN Foundation, the independent charity linked to the Royal College of Nursing. The Foundation provides vital support for UK nurses and midwives facing hardship, helping them get back on their feet with practical advice and financial assistance. It also funds professional development opportunities, ensuring nurses continue to thrive in an evolving health landscape. And through grants for innovative, nurse-led projects, it's improving the health and wellbeing of communities across the UK.

As someone who worked on the NHS frontline during the COVID-19 pandemic, I've seen first hand the toll on our profession - physically, mentally and emotionally. Many of us are still dealing with the long-term impact. That's why supporting the wellbeing of nurses is more important now than ever.

In the RCN Foundation's 15th anniversary year, I've set a fundraising goal of £15,000 - to honour 15 years of making a difference, and to help secure a healthier, stronger future for UK nursing.

Every single £1 you donate will go directly to support nurses and midwives in the UK when they need it most.

I hope you'll join me ion this journey. Your support can help safeguard those who dedicate their lives to caring for others. Together, we can make a lasting impact - one summit at a time.