One of the BHA's long standing restaurant members, Mr Martin Pickles is going out of the frying pan and into the fire as he is to scale the dizzy heights of Mount Kilimanjaro.

Martin, who previously ran Langans and who now runs The Flying Pizza restaurant in Leeds will be making the climb on 29 September 2009 in aid of two charities close to his heart.

Both Think Pink - a breast cancer research charity and Yorkshire Air Ambulance, which is entirely funded by charitable donations, will benefit from Martin's courageous efforts.

The Yorkshire Air Ambulance is a charity especially close to Martin's heart, as he explains: "My niece Georgina was thrown from her horse last March and fell into a coma for almost two weeks. She was flown to Leeds Infirmary by Air Ambulance and remained there for several weeks. Thank God, she made a full recovery. The "golden time" the helicopter provided must have made a huge difference.

"If I manage to raise, say, £6,000 for the helicopter, this will provide finance for just one day! What if it were the one day you or your loved ones needed the Air Ambulance?"

Martin is seeking sponsorship for his climb on Mount Kilimanjaro, which is one of the world's highest and toughest treks. Donations can be given online via: www.theflyingpizza.co.uk or via: www.justgiving.com/martinpickles or sent directly to the flying pizza restaurant.

Any donation large or small is greatly received by Martin and the team who look forward to completing The New Victoria Medical Foundation - Kilimanjaro Challenge 2009.

We wish Martin the best of luck!