<p>Dear Friends,</p> <p>Once again I am running <a href="http://www.thebritish10klondon.co.uk/Frameset/Main.htm" target="_blank">the London 10k</a> this year, hoping to raise a few &pound;'s for a wortwhile cause and hopefully losing a few lbs at the same time.</p> <p>This year I am running for <a href="http://www.contact-the-elderly.org.uk/" target="_blank">'Contact the Elderly'</a> a charity we've supported over the past year. Their cause is not fashionable, but it is valuable; organising regular sunday afternoon tea parties for people over 75, who live with little or no social support. I've seen first hand the benefits of this work; and the positive impact it has on older people who are often isolated and lacking in confidence.</p> <p>Research carried out over the last few decades has consistently shown that 10% of older people feel always or very lonely. Recent estimates place the number of people aged over 65 who are often or always lonely at over 1 million.</p> <p>Some stats from <a href="http://bit.ly/f771PI" target="_blank">The Campaign to End Loneliness</a> show the extent of the problem.</p> <ul> <li><span style="color: #000080;"><strong><em>7%</em> of older people <em>are in contact</em> with family, friends and neighbours <em>less than once a week</em> and <em>11%</em> are in contact <em>less than once a month</em></strong></span></li> <li><span style="color: #000080;"><strong><em>Over half </em>(51%) of all people aged 75 and over <em>live alone</em></strong></span></li> <li><span style="color: #000080;"><strong><em>Half of all older people</em> (about 5 million) s<em>ay the television is their main company</em></strong></span></li> </ul> <p>Clearly this is a big issue; and Contact the Elderly's work is a small part of the wider solutions needed to redress this social need. But, their work <em>does</em> make a difference and it's an organisation and a cause I am proud to support.</p> <p>I hope you will join me in supporting them too.</p> <p>Thank you.</p> <p>Damian</p>