an update ... I have done it and am overwhelmed by the amazing generosity of my friends - and of people I have never met - thank you all. The British Hedgehog Preservation Society is going to be thrilled.

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What a brilliant and mad idea - I am getting my first (and last) tattoo as part of ExtInked:

http://www.uhc.org.uk/portfolio.php?tag=14&project=54

the idea is simple - 100 volunteers are each going to get a tattoo of on of 100 species from the UK's Biodiversity Action Plan - these are species that are identified as at risk. And the hedgehog, an animal I have studied for 20 years, and have written a book about (A Prickly Affair ... good title for a tattooist perhaps?) is now on the list due to the decline of around 40% in the last 25 years.

The idea came from Clare Heyward, obviously aware of my fragility - how about getting sponsored for every minute I stay conscious during the process of tattooing? Well, go for it - any money goes to the British Hedgehog Preservation Society, an organisation that is dedicated to researching the causes, and trying to halt, the decline of our most charismatic of mammals.

Here is the justgiving blurb ....

Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

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.