Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.
After 60 years I have collected all the material things I need (and some!) so instead of giving me more I thought it would be lovely if you would donate the money you would have spent on me ( what do you mean, you weren't going to?!!) to a very worthy cause, the Orpheus Centre, founded by Richard Stilgoe. (If you're over 50 you'll know who he is).
I have been blessed with a love of music ( though some will argue about taste! ) and not only appreciate listening but have been able to make a noise approaching "musical" for most of my life through various instruments and more recently through singing. I have derived great pleasure from it and this has led to my choice of charity. Most of us , thankfully enjoy reasonable health and are able to do most things we set our minds to. We are very lucky; priviledged even. There are many youngsters who are facing an ever-more complicated world with severe disabilities either physical or mental. How they can even face the next day is amazing and to do so cheerfully astounds me and makes me feel very humble. The Orpheus centre was set up to help these amazing youngsters develop using the medium of music and performance skills. The centre doesn't set out to make them musicians or West End stars, but develops in them skills to use in their daily challenges as they strive to fit into the community. It shows them that they not only have a right to a place in that community but that they can be of great value to it. Please take a few minutes out of your busy day to visit the website www.orpheus.org.uk and take a look at their newsletter. I'll guarantee you will have a "feel good factor" for helping this organisation with your donation.
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.
Thank you for celebrating my special birthday with me and especially for your donation. Every donation, large or small is really appreciated by me, and especially by those people who devote their time to giving disabled youngsters a start in life.
Hope to see you all at the dance on 13th March.
Dave
