Hello, my name is Dean and I had a rough childhood. After my parents died, I was brought up in a cold house of neglect and abuse. I often went without food and was usually deprived of sleep and any form of comfort and I lived in fear of those around me. I couldn't concentrate at school and my quietness and the fact I was skinny led to me being bullied there too, so I eventually just stopped going. I didn't learn very much and was told I was stupid. I lost any bit of self-respect I had, all my confidence too, and began to believe what I was told. I became introverted and wondered exactly what would become of me, if this is all there was to life.

Children need care. They need love and support and an environment in which they can shine and reach their potential. They need to know that someone is there for them, wants them to pull through and grow up to discover a better world. But they can't do it alone.

I look back at life and think of all those who reached out to help me. And now, I have a job, I have a home, I have an amazing partner who I love more than anything, I have friends and I have people around me all the time who I would consider as family, now. It makes me proud.

This was my childhood dream... and sadly it's something that most people take for granted. There are hundreds more children out there like me who are still waiting for the dream to happen. Help me help them, together we can make a difference.

Ps - You are sponsoring me to walk 10km along the canal, whatever the weather.