Story
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #000080;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: &amp;quot;Arial&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;sans-serif&amp;quot;; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Some of you may know I like a <strong>challenge...</strong>well, this is the biggest and best yet! So <strong>thanks</strong> for spending a few minutes to hear what I'm doing and why. And if it encourages you to <strong>donate</strong>, well even better!</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #000080;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: &amp;quot;Arial&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;sans-serif&amp;quot;; mso-ansi-language: EN;">On the 1st June 2012 I will be part of a team of 35 Lloyds Banking Group colleagues flying to <strong>Kathmandu </strong>to start our trek to <strong>Everest Base Camp </strong>and the toughest challenge of our lives. I seriously </span><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: &amp;quot;Arial&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;sans-serif&amp;quot;; mso-ansi-language: EN;">have no idea what to expect (my current source of information is Michael Palin's Himalayas so things could be worse!) but am researching / training like crazy. The only thing that's hard for me to control is hitting my <strong>fund raising target</strong>... and this is where you come </span><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: &amp;quot;Arial&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;sans-serif&amp;quot;; mso-ansi-language: EN;">in!</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 11.25pt;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; color: #000080; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-ansi-language: EN;">If you want to know more about why I'm doing this please click on the <strong>video clip</strong> in my gallery to see what a difference your donation can make to kids in the <strong>UK's most deprived areas</strong>. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 11.25pt;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; color: #000080; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Families and Schools Together <strong>(FAST)</strong> is an award-winning project that boosts the chances of kids in the UK's most <strong>deprived areas </strong>by supporting <strong>parents</strong> to improve their children's learning and development at home, so they can reach their <strong>full potential </strong>at school. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 11.25pt;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; color: #000080; font-family: &amp;quot;Arial&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;sans-serif&amp;quot;; mso-ansi-language: EN;">I'm sure most of you know the <strong>JustGiving</strong> drill but if this is your first time, here's what you do: </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 11.25pt;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; color: #000080; font-family: &amp;quot;Arial&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;sans-serif&amp;quot;; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are <strong>safe</strong> with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money <strong>directly</strong> to the charity and make sure <strong>Gift Aid </strong>is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it’s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 11.25pt;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; color: #000080; font-family: &amp;quot;Arial&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;sans-serif&amp;quot;; mso-ansi-language: EN;">I know there will be numerous requests like this reaching you and lots of really good causes, but if you can find it in you to <strong>dig deep </strong>you will really be <strong>helping me </strong>get through the tough times when out there, as well as hugely benefiting the kids and parents in the <strong>FAST</strong> programme.</span></p>
<p><strong><span style="color: #000080;">Thank you. I mean it!</span></strong></p>