Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.
Those of you who know me know that my life is dominated by three things: my love for walking (particularly in Scotland), my boyfriend (sad I know), and my somewhat overactive conscience. SO... next year I’ve decided that I’ll satisfy all three by walking 168 miles through the Scottish Highlands for the Samaritans, with Phil, of course, by my side.We’ll complete the challenge over two separate weeks (unfortunately work commitments mean we can’t complete the whole distance at once.) On the 16 April we’ll set off from Milngavie, just outside Glasgow, and walk the 95 miles to Fort William, arriving on the 23. Then on the 28 May, we’ll pick up where we left off in Fort William, and walk the remaining 75 miles to Inverness, hopefully arriving on the 2 June.
So why are we doing it for the Samaritans, and why should you sponsor us? Well, that’s where my conscience comes in. As soon as we decided that we wanted to raise money for charity, I was determined to find an organisation with a huge need for private funding, which had proved itself to be efficient, resourceful, and ambitious. I wanted to ensure that if I was going to ask my friends and family to donate their hard-earned doe, it would be going to a cause for which it was truly needed, and would not be wasted. So I did what I do best, and got down to some good geeky research. After trawling through Charity Commission reviews and expert independent opinions, I finally came up with several options, which Phil and I discussed. We eventually decided on the Samaritans, and here’s why:
The Samaritans offer a unique service, providing emotional support to people in distress 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Often, people in despair do not know where to turn, and for many, the charity is their only avenue for support. The Samaritans therefore meet a genuinely huge need. Its volunteers answer five million calls every year, and in many cases help callers to take a decision not to commit suicide. The charity is more accessible than other services; 90% of callers speak to someone immediately, and the service is available throughout the night when support can be difficult to find and other organisations are often closed.
Keep those facts and figures in mind and then consider that the Samaritans’ central staff consists of just 85 people. The charity relies almost entirely on its 17,000 volunteers, who are trained and used in a way which New Philanthropy Capital describes as ‘excellent.’ NPC comments that on average, volunteers give 22 days per year to the charity. Their sheer commitment, and the resourcefulness of the charity means that its service is extremely cost effective, each call costing just £3. By helping Phil and I to reach our £2000 sponsorship target, you are therefore potentially helping us to provide support for over 600 people.
Moreover, this is a charity that needs your support. Less than 2% of its income comes from Government and Statutory sources. The Samaritans depend on the support and donations of generous individuals like you – to be able to keep offering this service which is so obviously needed and valued by so many. Please don’t turn a blind eye. Think of each £3 raised as one person helped, and give whatever you can, however small it may be.
Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’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’s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.
So please dig deep and donate now.
Thank you!
Lots of love, Nadine and Phil xxx
