Wainwright's Coast to Coast Walk has been on my bucket list for a long while now. The opportunity has presented itself with taking a short career break, so the excuses have disappeared. It is 190 miles, starting in St Bees on the west coast and finishing in Robin Hood's Bay in the east. In between lies the Lake District, the Pennines and the North York Moors. The days vary between 10 and 22 miles and I'll be camping for much of it, with a few stays in B&Bs and hostels. I'm not in the best of shape! My mental health has been better, although this walk will be part of my road to full recovery. I have been out walking as much as I can, although I think the first few days will be a bit of a shock to the system!

This is where you come in! I would like to raise money for two charities: Phab and Hill Park School.

I have supported Phab for much of my adult life, as a volunteer for residentials and weekly Phab Clubs, and more recently as a trustee and treasurer of the national charity. The charity puts the social model of disability at the heart of what it does and supports disabled and non-disabled people to make more of life together. The charity is going through a period of exciting growth and needs resources to achieve its ambitious goals. Don't worry - the money will be carefully spent - I'm the treasurer after all!

Hill Park School is where my son Joshua goes to school. It is an outstanding special school and the staff are fantastic. However, as a parent governor, I know how challenging the funding position is and the incredibly tough resourcing decisions the staff have to make. I would love to make a small difference by helping to fund a specific capital spend.

Please support and follow my progress: I'm starting on the 8th May and hoping to finish on the 18th. Please share with anyone who may be interested.