Story
<p>Thanks very much for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page. Even if you are unable to donate today please read my page to the end and tell at least one other person today about my chosen charity and the important work that they do. I would be so grateful. </p>
<p><strong>The challenge.</strong></p>
<p><strong>Rhod's Ridge Walk. A 14 mile circular walk in the beautiful Black Mountains starting at Llanthony Priory, on Sunday 14 August 2011, to commemorate Rhodri's 18th birthday. </strong></p>
<p><strong>The walk was a big success with 60 walkers enjoying the beautiful surroundings of Llanthony and Offa's Dyke. Thanks to all the walkers who took the trouble to get up early on a Sunday morning and who raised sponsorship money and bought raffle tickets.</strong></p>
<p><strong>The walk wouldnt have run so smoothly without the help of WO Brian Pratt, Ali Nash and his TA team, Gareth, Shelia and Carolyn Heard, the team leaders and helpers on the day, Longtown Mountain Rescue and Court Farm, Llanthony. Huge thanks to all who gave up their time and put so much effort into making the day a success.</strong></p>
<p><strong>Thanks to all of you who have donated money to Papyrus - it is very important that we all work towards suicide prevention.</strong></p>
<p><strong><br></strong></p>
<p><strong>Why am I raising money?</strong></p>
<p>My darling nephew Rhodri walked out of his house at 5pm on 8 October 2010 and was never seen alive again. The shock, pain and anguish that his family is suffering is indescribable. A tragedy like this also has a huge impact on the wider community. His fantastic friends were truly amazing during the 4 days that Rhod was missing. They searched for him continuously, not even stopping for a rest for the first 24 hours. They are a credit to their generation and their school and I would adopt them all if I could! His closest friends lined the entrance of the church at Rhodri's funeral and the sound of 20 young men and women quietly sobbing, as the coffin passed the line, will live with me for the rest of my life.</p>
<p>Rhodri was very keen on keeping fit and was a talented sportsman, so this seems an appropriate challenge. </p>
<p><strong>The chosen charity</strong></p>
<p><strong>Papyrus - Prevention of Young Suicide</strong> is the charity chosen by Rhod's parents. They feel that Rhod's age group needs a dedicated help line and tailored support as most teenagers consider that they have outgrown Childine and they dont readily identify with the Samaritans. The message needs to get across to young people that suicide is a permanent and irreversible solution to a problem that is temporary. Rhod's problem would have been forgotten the next day. </p>
<p><strong>Some shocking key facts about suicide.</strong></p>
<p>Suicide and attempted suicide is a significant issue in Britain today:</p>
<p><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; color: #666666;"> </span></p>
<ul style="margin-top: 1em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; padding: 0px;">
<li style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 12px; background-image: url(http://www.samaritans.org/images/genlist-arrow.gif); background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; font-size: 1.2em; background-position: 0px 0.3em; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; margin: 0px;">Every year there are about 24,000 cases of attempted suicide by young people aged 10-19 years in England and Wales alone. This is one attempt every 20 minutes.<br><br></li>
<li style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 12px; background-image: url(http://www.samaritans.org/images/genlist-arrow.gif); background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; font-size: 1.2em; background-position: 0px 0.3em; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; margin: 0px;">In the UK, for people aged 15-24, suicide is the second biggest cause of death after road accidents.<br><br></li>
<li style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 12px; background-image: url(http://www.samaritans.org/images/genlist-arrow.gif); background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; font-size: 1.2em; background-position: 0px 0.3em; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; margin: 0px;">The trend in suicide rates is downward in all countries except Wales and Northern Ireland where suicide rates are on the increase.<br><br></li>
<li style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 12px; background-image: url(http://www.samaritans.org/images/genlist-arrow.gif); background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; font-size: 1.2em; background-position: 0px 0.3em; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; margin: 0px;">Suicide is three times more common amongst men (17 per 100,000 population over 14 years of age) than women (5 per 100,000 population over 14 years of age)</li>
</ul>
<p> </p>
<p>Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid 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.</p>
<p>So please dig deep and donate now. Thank you. Diolch yn fawr iawn.</p>
<p>Anne</p>