I am now entering the final month of my 61/2-month long Walking Home From Mongolia expedition. Along the way, my cameraman Leon McCarron and I have crossed the Gobi Desert and northern China in winter, and progressed into the beautiful springtime of the central and southern Chinese mountains. We have taken a dip in the Yellow River and the Yangtze. The Pearl awaits us this week.
There have been many magical moments on the trip so far - sunrise in the frozen Gobi, being invited into a Chinese family's home for Lunar New Year's Eve, walking along the Great Wall and through unending mountains of terraced paddy fields.
There have been dark times. Walking into the freezing night on dangerous, coal-truck filled roads; getting a painful foot injury that led to limping for weeks and thoughts of giving up; getting worn down by so many days and nights of not knowing where I would sleep or eat; and just missing my home and my wife.
Sometimes, I wonder why I am doing it all. I suppose the adventure is a big part, and I like doing things that test me to my limits. And I'm enjoying getting to know China better.
But one of the other big motivations behind the expedition is to raise money for the children's charity Viva. I think it's a really good idea to help charities through doing sponsored events - whether it be running a marathon, going on a bicycle journey, or growing a moustache (Movember). You don't have to do something big like walking the length of China, but you should choose a challenge that pushes you outside your comfort zone. Helping a charity in this way has several major benefits.
Firstly, it gives you extra motivation not to give up, even when the going gets tough. When you are 'hitting the wall' on your marathon and blisters are eating up your feet, knowing that you are raising money for a cause you believe in (perhaps to help people who are suffering far more than you are now) will help you keep going.
Secondly, it encourages your friends to give more money to charity. Giving actually benefits both you and the recipient - studies from top psychologists at leading universities have shown that giving to others and being generous (whether it be with your time or your wallet) has definite benefits for your mental and physical health, increasing your life expectancy.