<p>As many of you are probably aware, starting this March I'm spending 3+ months volunteering in Ethiopia. I'm doing this through Link Ethiopia, an amazing charity aiming to improve education.</p> <p>On February 26th 2012, I'm taking part in Bath's Skyline multi-terrain 10k run (genuinely already dreading this) to hopefully raise even more money for such an amazing cause. There is an extremely high risk that this will kill me, but it's such an amazing cause &amp; the thought of being able to see the effects in person will hopefully get me through it. HOPEFULLY :) However little you give really can make such adifference to real lives, so please give whatever you can! :) Just &pound;20 could provide FOURTY children with clean water for an entire month - this shows you don't need to donate your life savings to save a life. (which i know absolutely none of you would do but just thought i'd reassure you :p)</p> <p>I don't even think much explanation is needed as to the importance of donations. But I'll do it anyway..currently in Ethiopia, only 20% of children have access to an education, and those that do are taught in classes of between 50-100 students, with just one teacher and extremely limited resources. For the population of 15years+, only 42% can read and write. In the UK, education is so readily taken for granted..and 99% of over 15-year olds are literate. The statistics talk for themselves. For Ethiopian children, if they don't get an education, they have absolutely zero chance of improving their life quality, and will end up (if at all) in seriously low-paid jobs in terrible conditions. An education is all it would take to change this.</p> <p>Currently, 80% of Ethiopians survive on less than $2 each day, and many millions suffer from the same recurring problems as other undeveloped countries - lack of food, education, clean water and poor sanitation. There is a life expectancy of just 45 years, a staggering 30 years lower than the UK.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Please donate whatever you can, you really will be making a difference - it will be appreciated by so many people. THANK YOU! :)</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>***-Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.</p> <p>Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving &ndash; they&rsquo;ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they&rsquo;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&rsquo;s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.</p> <p>So please dig deep and donate now.</p>