Story
<p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: small;">Some 45 years ago, when I had just turned 19 and the Beatles first sang “When I’m Sixty-Four” little did it occur to me that this would one day be me! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So feeling the need to prove there’s a bit of hill walking still left in me I’ve decided to attempt over the next few weeks to reach the summits of the 64 highest peaks in the English Lake District.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It will involve nearly 200 miles of rough walking and around 63,000 feet of ascent.</span></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: small;">My brother Chris lives in Hay-on-Wye (twinned with Timbuktu!) and does voluntary work for a wonderful organisation called <strong style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Jump4Timbuktu</em></strong>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Besides developing a trading partnership to help Tuareg artisans trade their way out of poverty, they have also initiated sustainable projects to ensure water and food security for desert based communities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am aiming to fund a water storage and distribution facility for one community, for families, animals and the growth of vegetables and fruit.</span></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: small;">The livelihood and well-being of the formerly nomadic Tuareg peoples has been under serious threat for some years because of political and climatic changes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just recently a more acute humanitarian crisis has developed as a result of widespread civil unrest in Mali and a military coup in the capital, Bamako.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><strong style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Jump4Timbuktu</em></strong> has responded with a special appeal, so please give generously.</span></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">You can read more about <strong style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Jump4Timbuktu</em></strong> at </span><a href="http://www.jump4timbuktu.org/"><span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">www.jump4timbuktu.org</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"> Dona</span>ting 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.</p>
<p>Thank you so much!</p>