Raised: 169%
Target: £1,000.00
Raised so far: £1,685.00
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My story

 

On Friday 20th November starting at 10.30pm Billie, her dog Solo and Tom will be walking 18 miles through London to raise money for the Big Issue Foundation.

They first met five years ago in a substance misuse unit in Central London where Tom was working and Billy was a resident.

The 'Billie' Tom first met is very different to the 'Billie' today who recently met Gordon Brown at 10 Downing Street, all thanks to the Big Issue and the work of the Big Issue Foundation.

 "Bickley ( Billie) was on the streets four years before the Big Issue existed, escaping a violent home at 14 for London. "I got the first train from Coventry, got off at King's Cross and I've been here ever since," she says. Within her first week of living on the street, she was befriended by a homeless couple who sold heroin. "The first time I took it was 17 June 1987, my 15th birthday. I kept on taking it for 17 years."
By the time Bickley was 21, she was also addicted to crack cocaine. "I remember walking through King's Cross one day," she says. "Crack had just come out, and the dealers were hiding the drugs in their mouths. Right next to me, this guy's head gets blown off in the street by another dealer. There was blood all over my face – but I didn't care, I just wanted the crack that had been blown out of his mouth. I was picking up all the rocks off the street out of the blood and guts."

 Taken from The Guardian, 18th September 2009, written by Ros Wynne Jones
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2009/sep/18/big-issue-18-birthday

 Since Billie started selling The Big Issue not only she has been able to kick her 17 year drug habit, she has been able to find a proper home with her partner and her partner's two children, and soon will be going to college to train to be a drugs worker.

 The Big Issue Foundation is dedicated to the well being of Big Issue Vendors working with over 2900 individuals across England.  Their skilled staff work one to one with vendors tackling issues ranging from health and accommodation through to money management and aspirations.

The Big Issue Foundation is about taking control, moving forward, gaining independence and rebuilding lives. They exist to enable vendors to continue on their journey away from homelessness.

Please donate what you can and help The Big Issue Foundation continue to transform lives like Billie.

Think of Billie, Solo and Tom on November 20th, its going to be cold!!!

 

Donation by Natasha Lee 06/12/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Well done Billie! God bless. Donation by Miranda from Soup Kitchen at American Church 02/12/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Donation by Angela Clement 27/11/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Hi Billie, nice to see you smashed your target! See you next week when I get back from India :) Donation by Gwil 26/11/09  

£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid

A brilliant effort Billy....now go and put your feet up, missus! : ) Donation by Ruth 24/11/09  

£5.00 + £1.41 Gift Aid

Well done Billie, Tom and Solo. Keep up the good work each morning with your friendly chat and smile, and woof from Solo. Karen Donation by Karen Skelton 24/11/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Sorry Billie - late as always! Congrats and hope it went well... Donation by Jon Wood 24/11/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Bilie, sorry this is late and hope ya not still walking! but huge and mighty respect and Big Barnes Love!!! See ya soon, Tony H. Donation by tony hirst 23/11/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Good luck Billie and Solo! Grace x (louise's sister) Donation by grace kither 19/11/09  

£8.50

Good luck Billie and Solo Can't wait to hear all about it xx Donation by louise (grace's sister) 19/11/09  

£8.50 + £2.40 Gift Aid

Well done!. Plenty of woollies on and keep walking. Boni Donation by Boni de la Fuente 19/11/09  

£15.00 + £4.23 Gift Aid

Donation by Tim 19/11/09  

Good Luck to you Billie, hope it stays dry! Donation by Martin & Gilly 19/11/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Good luck Billie, Solo and Tom! Don't forget the jelly babies! Lesley.x Donation by Lesley 19/11/09  

£25.00 + £7.05 Gift Aid

You're just about the most cheeky person I know and we all seem to love how you light up St Martins lane each morning. Enjoy the walk x Donation by Mark "Busted Knee" Thomas 19/11/09  

£25.00 + £7.05 Gift Aid

Good luck Billie!! Donation by warren 18/11/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Hey Billie - Hope the walk goes well. Look forward to finding out all about it! Donation by Mel 18/11/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Good Luck. I hope it's not too cold. Donation by Sue 17/11/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Donation by Kevin 17/11/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Best of luck Billy - From Sarah the kiwi xx Donation by Sarah Jones 17/11/09  

£5.00 + £1.41 Gift Aid

Good luck! Donation by James 17/11/09  

£40.00 + £11.28 Gift Aid

Get those boots walking. Enjoy! Jo x Donation by Jo 16/11/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Hey, Billie. Go for it, my dear! I'm really excited about the event. Let's walk together! xx Ana Donation by Ana Pinheiro 16/11/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

One day i will trap that tennis ball that you throw in the morning! Good luck. James & Nicole Donation by James & Nicole 16/11/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

You are a cheery face no matter what time of the morning I emerge from the tube. Have a great night Donation by Jane Ashcroft 15/11/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Be proud of yourself, and carry on inspiring us all. Why not add a link from Facebook etc fellow donaters? Donation by anonymous 15/11/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Go for it Billie, you can do it - Look forward to hearing all about it. Donation by Siobhan 15/11/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Good on you girl. I see you down Pret every morning (Scottish). Donation by carolyn kemp 15/11/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Hi Billie!!! Thanks so much for making me smile everyday!! You are an inspiration for all of us! x R Donation by Robert 14/11/09  

£50.00

Billie, you are an inspiration. No hitching a ride on Solo. Good luck to all 3 of you. Nick Donation by Nick Paris 14/11/09  

£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid
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* Total raised online: £1,685.00
  Offline donations: £0.00
  Gift Aid plus supplement: £410.81

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