Julien Macdonald set to climb Mount Kilimanjaro

Welsh designer, Julien Macdonald, will take on, arguably,

one of his greatest challenges tomorrow; climbing Mount Kilimanjaro tomorrow for two children's charities - TAS and Chance UK.

"Honestly, I look like Dora The Explorer - when I leave home tonight I'll have my boots on, my hats, my big coat, my rucksack - the lot," Macdonald told us this morning. "I have never packed for a holiday where I haven't been able to include my nice clothes and sandals - instead I've got a hot water bottle, plasters, thermal socks and a sleeping bag. I'm a bit dubious."

Macdonald was approached by Simon Garner, creative director of Dorothy Perkins, at the beginning of the year and has been training ever since.

"I do get some odd looks with I'm walking around Notting Hill, West London, in my hiking boots - I haven't taken them off for four months. People keep asking me 'Are those boots some sort of new fashion trend?' I say 'No, actually I'm climbing Kilimanjaro.' I managed to take them off for the show though, so at least that's something. I've just been trying to get used to walking 11-hour stretches - it's not easy."

The climb will last for four days.