Hello,

Thank you taking the time to read my page.  You have just taken your first step in helping Crisis to end homelessness in the .  Don’t stop now – please keep reading.

Crisis is the charity that campaigns to change the way we think about the homeless.  Is your view the same as mine was, 2 years ago, before I volunteered at a Crisis Christmas centre?  Homeless people to me were the guys you fall over on streets, often with a dog beside them, asking for money.  Somebody asked me recently ‘don’t they live like that because they choose to?’  Ever tried sleeping in a shop doorway on a snowy Christmas Eve?  I haven’t but it’s easy to decide that I’d never choose to.

I’ve met many homeless people now.  They have come from all walks of life.  One was a publican whose pub closed down 2 months before Christmas; he lost his job and his home and had nowhere to sleep.  I met 2 very polite young men who were released from prison on the morning of a very cold Christmas Eve and were told to find a Crisis Centre to see if they could get a bed for the night.  Then there was an ex-soldier who had been in the army for many years and had nowhere to go when he left the army.  None of these people have chosen to be homeless nor do they deserve to be.

Hopefully you are now ready to take your next step to help Crisis continue their work.

I am running 13.1 miles on 10^th October at the Royal Parks Half Marathon, partly because I love having sore feet and aching thighs but mostly because I want to raise some money for this charity that I feel so passionate about.  Please do help by offering a donation, however small or large.  For every £5 you can spare 10 homeless people will have a Christmas dinner this year.  Wouldn’t it be a great thought to know how many people you have fed whilst you’re having your own Christmas dinner!

Huge thanks for reading all the way to the end.  Please don’t stop now – please take that last step and donate some money!

Many, many thanks.

Belinda xXx