The Family Centre and the US charity Friends of the Family Centre will join forces later today for the launch of a major fundraising drive in New York City.Former World Champion wrestler John Layfield, also known as ‘JBL’ in the world of wrestling will embark on an ambitious trek to raise funds for Bermuda’s children.Mr Layfield will be joined by Tourism Minister Wayne Furbert and Director Billy Griffith at the NY headquarters of Marsh & McLennan to launch the drive.The Tourism Department also sent a group of Bermudian musicians to the event.Mr Layfield plans to “climb the tallest mountain on each continent in the world over two short years to bring awareness to his work to support young people who are trying to build positive lives”.The “Seven Summits for Kids” will take him to Russia, Tanzania and Argentina this year.He plans to scale the tallest mountains in Antarctica, Alaska and the Philippines next year with plans to climb the world’s tallest mountain, Mount Everest in Tibet and Nepal in 2014.The Family Centre is partially supported through the efforts of the US charity Friends of the Family Centre which allows sponsors to make a US tax deductible gift in support of Bermuda’s children.The launch today was made possible by the “generosity of Brian Duperreault, CEO of Marsh & McLennean.Family Centre Executive Director Martha Dismont said: “We are so grateful to John for devoting himself to our children, personally, and for being courageous enough to follow his brave vision and raise the urgently needed funds and awareness that will help us to meet the growing demand for support of young people in Bermuda.”The Minister described the retired professional wrestler as a “true ambassador for Bermuda”.“His efforts to help benefit the children and families of the Island are truly inspirational. John will be carrying much more than the Bermuda flag on his epic journey, he will be carrying the hearts of the Bermudian people and we are proud to honour him for his outstanding work,” said Mr Furbert.All the money raised will support the services run by The Family Centre to “protect children including the Beyond Rugby programme that John brought to the island and that he supports daily with his volunteer time and passion for sports and healthy children”.Climbing the tallest peaks of the world has been a lifelong dream for Mr Layfield who called on World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) to assist.The WWE has offered to cover all of his sponsorship costs to make seven climbs in two years.And Mr Layfield plans to plant a Bermuda flag at the summit of each mountain “to honour Bermuda and the children that he is representing”.He is the man who brought the acclaimed Beyond Sport model to Bermuda through the Family Centre “to help young people avoid issues of gangs and violence and get on a rewarding path of fitness and academic success”.Donations are being accepted, for more information on the Seven Summits Bermuda Challenge go to www.beyondrugbybermuda.com.The Family Centre is an internationally accredited Bermuda charity that provides a wide range of services from counselling of hundreds of children in crisis each year to the “coordination of community mobilisation and preventive services that reduce risks for children”.The Beyond Rugby Bermuda programme is coordinated by TFC as a sporting programme that also improves the “academic and social well-being for children facing community challenges”.