Story
<p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: small;">On Saturday March 3rd</span><span style="font-size: small;">, a troupe of foolhardy students (myself included) will be braving the trials and tribulations of the New Forest in order to complete a 60km (that’s about 37 miles) bike ride in the name of charity fundraising. One charity in particular: the Libra Foundation. Don’t worry if you haven’t heard of it - it’s very young (celebrating its 5th</span><span style="font-size: small;"> year this year) and in comparison to some of the big charities out there, like the RSPCA, very few people have – but it does invaluable work.</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">I wasn’t alive during the time of <span style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Ceaușescu’s communist dictatorship</span>, and wasn’t even born to see the end of it, but I remember some of the stories – even from a very young age – of its aftermath. Since that time, Romania has had vast amounts of progress in reforming the health system, promoting equality, and improving life for its people; but it needs help. It still has 44% of its population living in poverty, it still has to face the economic crisis in Europe (indeed, it is a fact that teachers and healthcare workers have suffered cuts in excess of 40% to their salaries) – and this is where the Libra Foundation steps in. Though not in a position to provide extensive financial or political support, it makes remarkable difference in the lives of many Romanians by providing money for improving education and life for young children, and by sending out teams of volunteers to work in schools and in residential homes with the mentally, physically and developmentally delayed. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">Libra aims to “improve the quality of life for children and young people overseas, especially those who are disabled or disadvantaged”. I wish to help Libra to achieve this goal any way that I can – hence the bike ride, and the fact that I am self-funding myself to fly out to Romania for two weeks this summer with some other Libra volunteers, where I’ll be working in a Residential Home and Special Needs school in Bradet, Sacele. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">I know times are hard, but any little that could be spared would be very much appreciated.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">Fiona McL.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"> </span>Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.</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.</p>