<p><span style="color: #000000;">Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.</span></p> <p><span style="color: #000000;">For my birthday this year I wanted to give folks the chance to give to someone who was a little more in need than me. If you'd like to wish me a happy birthday this year by giving to charity instead of something a bit more traditional*, then please read on.</span></p> <p><span style="color: #000000;">The <span style="color: #4b0082;"><strong><a title="Disasters Emergency Committee" href="http://www.dec.org.uk/" target="_blank">Disasters Emergency Committee</a></strong></span> (working through Oxfam, British Red Cross, Save the Children, age uk, Plan, actionaid, Merlin, tearfund, Concern worldwide, Islamic Relief, Christian aid, care, CAFOD and World Vision) do great work to respond to terrible events worldwide, as all of those charities did for the Pakistan Floods and Haiti Earthquake appeals.</span></p> <p><span style="color: #000000;"> They're</span><span style="color: #000000;"> now running an appeal for the <span style="color: #4b0082;"><strong><a title="East Africa Crisis" href="http://www.dec.org.uk/appeals/east-africa-crisis-appeal" target="_blank">East Africa Crisis</a></strong></span> which your gift will help towards. For more information about the East Africa Crisis, see the DEC's website:<br /></span></p> <p><span style="color: #4b0082;"><em>http://www.dec.org.uk/appeals/east-africa-crisis-appeal</em></span></p> <div><span style="color: #000000;">The worst drought in 60 years in parts of East Africa and ongoing war have led to a widespread famine, and m</span><span style="color: #000000;">ore than 10 million people in Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, and South Sudan are in need of food, water and emergency healthcare.</span></div> <div></div> <div>The minimum donation on JustGiving is &pound;2. That could buy <em>me</em>:</div> <div></div> <div><span style="color: #4b0082;">- A birthday card</span></div> <div><span style="color: #800080;">- A Krispy Kreme donut (nom)</span></div> <div><span style="color: #0000ff;">- A giant packet of Skittles</span></div> <div><span style="color: #008000;">- A packet of wrapping paper</span></div> <div><span style="color: #c71585;">- Half a pint (in Moseley. Probably)</span></div> <div></div> <div><span style="color: #000000;">Or if you give just &pound;2 to the East Africa appeal instead...<br /></span></div> <div></div> <div><span style="color: #000000;"><span style="color: #4b0082;"><span style="color: #000000;">...If we could reach a target of</span><strong>&nbsp;</strong></span></span></div> <div></div> <div><span style="color: #000000;"><span style="color: #4b0082;"><strong>- &pound;25</strong>, that could provide safe drinking water for about <strong>400 people</strong></span><strong>.</strong></span></div> <div><span style="color: #800080;"><strong>- &pound;50</strong> could provide vaccinations for <strong>2,000 children</strong>.</span></div> <div><span style="color: #0000ff;"><strong>- &pound;95</strong> could supply <strong>20,000</strong> water purification tablets to help families get clean drinking water. </span></div> <div></div> <div><span style="color: #000000;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;">&nbsp;</span><span style="color: #008000;"><strong>- &pound;100</strong> would provide emergency food parcels to feed <strong>100 families</strong> in Kenya and Somalia. </span></span></div> <div></div> <div>I always believe that every little helps, so any thought is very gratefully received.</div> <div></div> <div> <p><span style="color: #000000;">Thank you.</span></p> <p><span style="color: #000000;">Laura</span></p> <span style="color: #000000;">xxxxx</span></div> <p><em><span style="color: #000000;">You can donate through this page, and now you can also donate &pound;5 from your mobile phone bill by texting the word CRISIS to 70000.</span></em></p> <p><em><span style="color: #000000;">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.</span></em></p> <p><span style="color: #000000;"><br /></span></p> <p><span style="color: #000000;">*If not, I like magazines...<br /></span></p>