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<div class="MsoNormal">I know Christmas is NOT the best time to ask <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>anyone for any help with a charity donation– but I have agreed to do a Sahara Trek this January 2012<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(78km over 4 days) to help a good friend<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sarah Markson<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>raise money for her son Jack’s charity ‘The Hope Charity’.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">Not only is Sarah a single mum with two children – Jack her eldest son<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>whom is now 16 years was diagnosed at birth with a rare syndrome and associated<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>learning disabilities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jack attended <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Hope Centre based<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>in N London which is a service for children and young people with special educational <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>needs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s teachers and therapists help students aged between<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>3 – 19 years .</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">By sponsoring me and supporting HOPE, you will be helping children to realise their full<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>learning potential, help them gain much needed confidence which will enable them <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>to interact more effectively in all aspects of <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a regular life.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">Their motto at The Hope Centre – is ‘Don’t accept me as I am – I can change’ and HOPE really do make this possible.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">Also this is the website and short video of The Hope Centre which features Jack (code named James)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and gives <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>you an idea of<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>how <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the centre helps these children.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://hope-centre-search.org.uk/stories.php">http://hope-centre-search.org.uk/stories.php</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vOtD4WzoiKQ"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: &amp;quot;Arial&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;sans-serif&amp;quot;; mso-fareast-font-family: &amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;;">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vOtD4WzoiKQ</span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">Jack’s father died earlier this year of Cancer and watching Sarah raise two children alone and <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>in <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>particular one with such significant disabilities has been hard enough but her continuous efforts to help raise money for The Hope Centre to help her son Jack and other children like him is an inspiration to us all. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know I and others really admire her strength, belief and devotion for the never ending and continuous 24 hour care she gives to Jack.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I f <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>ever any of you get the chance to meet Jack you would see what an enchanting and delightful boy he is and why The Hope Centre is such a worthy cause in helping these children.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">Happy Christmas <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>to you all and please give generously! Nikki x</div>
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