You can help strike a blow against the trafficking and abuse of Nepalese children through supporting me in my fundraising challenge for 2010.

In March I will turn 50 and will mark that event the following month by taking on the challenge of crossing the highest pass in the world - Thorong La. At 5,416 metres it is literally the high point of the two week long Annapurna Circuit, Nepal. I'll be completing the trek with 30 others, all of us raising badly-needed funds for the UK registered children's charity that I founded in 1999, The Esther Benjamins Trust (www.ebtrust.org.uk). Each trekker will be raising a minimum of £1,100 for the Trust but I have made my personal target £5,000, or £100 for each year of my life or £1 for each metre of ascent (ish).

The work of the Trust is quite exceptional, although I say so myself. In 2009 we finally closed down a child trafficking route after five years of hard work and quite some risk taking. Now Nepalese children are no longer being trafficked into Indian circuses where they had been imprisoned, exploited and abused. All the agents who were doing the trafficking - 13 of them - have now themselves come to know what it's like to lose freedom with most of them still serving long prison sentences for their crimes against childhood. Some cruel Indian circus owners are currently facing a similar prospect. This has been a huge achievement for our small charity but much more needs to be done as we continue to care for many of the child trafficking survivors whom we rescued from the circuses. And we continue to seek out other Nepalese children who are stranded and vulnerable in India, out of sight and out of mind. Apart that is, from us as we uphold our pledge not to forget Nepal's lost children.

This unique work is too important to suffer because of the current economic recession so please help us by donating what you can. You can contribute through JustGiving which 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 Trust 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 donate now! If you know anyone who'd like to join the trek find out more on the Trust's website:

http://www.ebtrust.org.uk/news/Trek_April2010.html

Best wishes

Philip Holmes

Founder/Director

The Esther Benjamins Trust