On 8th November 2009, I reached my momentous HALF CENTURY (hard to believe huh?). I have thought long and hard about a way to 'celebrate' turning 50 and have considered a range of options from a wild party to a luxurious holiday, whatever I chose I wanted it to be something spectacular!
I have dismissed the party option (who needs presents) and I can take that holiday some other time. Instead I have committed to TREK THE SAHARA for 10 days in March 2010 and raise money for Hampshire Deaf Association.
Those of you who know me, will realise that trekking across a remote desert, with a landscape that varies from stony flat expanses to wind blown sand dunes, is a far cry from the lifestyle to which I have become accustomed!! Every day will involve trekking for 7 hours, then an over night camp before trekking again the following day. Water is scarce in the desert, so there will be no opportunity for a wash (bring on the wet-wipes!!). This is no luxury trip!!!
I realise that this experience will be a massive challenge for me (I am really quite scared) and that I will be well out of my usual 'comfort zone' but I expect that it will be an amazing experience that will broaden my horizons and make me a stronger person and heighten the value of all that I hold dear in my life.
In addition to the benefit that this will bring to me as a person (I'm thinking of the postives here rather than the hardship I will face), it provides me with the opportunity to give something back to Society.
There are a great many worthwhile causes that I could raise money for, but having had the priviledge to have been brought up by the most amazing, profoundly deaf, British Sign Language using parents, deafness is a cause that means a great deal to me.
Your donation to Hampshire Deaf Association will enable the charity to provide a range of services to deaf people in the community, ranging from 1:1 support to enable a deaf person to achieve something like a University degree, organising a play scheme for young deaf children and their siblings, through to residential care for elderly deaf people or those deaf people with additional disabilities.
I really hope that you will feel motivated to make a donation for an activity that will seriously challenge me as a person and ultimately contribute to the valuable work of Hampshire Deaf Association, as well as marking my 50th birthday.
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 Hampshire Deaf Association 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.
So please be as generous as you can afford to be and donate now. Thank you x
