**DOUBLE YOUR MONEY!!**

**ALL DONATIONS TO MY PAGE WILL BE MATCHED LIKE FOR LIKE BY BARCLAYS!!**

There are so many important causes that need support during this challenging time, but for me, helping disadvantaged communities and those on the frontline with their mental health is an absolute priority.

That's why I've chosen to brave the elements in February and walk (because what else can we do?!) 8 miles around Orpington for the David Lynch Foundation UK.

The David Lynch Foundation UK is a small but incredible charity, offering Transcendental Meditation (TM) to disadvantaged communities and those who are victims of traumatic stress. Most recently they have been working with NHS healthcare professionals whose mental health has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic through their 'Heal the Healers' campaign. To find out more about their work visit www.davidlynchfoundation.org.uk.

I learnt TM myself when I was 19 having heard about it from The Beatles, and it has helped me enormously throughout my life, enabling me to stay calm and manage stress throughout my career. 

But don't just take it from me - TM also has a wealth of scientific research to back it up; over 600 scientific studies have been published in the world's leading scientific and medical journals, demonstrating its effectiveness at reducing stress, anxiety and reducing symptoms of PTSD.

It feels to me like the world needs the work of the David Lynch Foundation UK now more than ever, especially the incredible NHS workers battling COVID-19 on the frontline. 

I appreciate this is a difficult time financially for many, but if you can offer me any support, I would hugely appreciate it. 

And the best bit, is that as an ex-Barclays employee, Barclays will be matching every donation like for like, so don't hold back!!

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. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity.

Update- 18th February 2021

Thank you so much for all the donations. We are now well over halfway to achieving our target, having raised over £4400 of £8000 in just 6 days, your support has been overwhelming. Barclays of course matches these contributions and so with gift aid added as well, we have over £9,300 guaranteed to help David Lynch teach NHS staff Transcendental Meditation. Please share with your friends if at all possible! With all appreciation. Keith Parker

Update 28th February 2021

Dear Friends,

Supported by my wife Cathy, I completed the walk sponsoring healthcare workers to learn TM on
Saturday in bright February sunshine, it was a lovely walk and in different
circumstances many of our friends would have joined us.

It is wonderful that
Barclays are matching all donations given, as I am a Barclays pensioner and
they want to help communities get over Covid.

We are so encouraged
that over £4500 has been donated towards the very stretching target we set
ourselves to raise donations of £8,000. Barclays will double donations and we
then add on gift aid currently £500, so in total we have so far more than £9500
in the kitty!

Our heartfelt thanks
to everybody who has donated. We are due to submit the claim for matching funds
to Barclays on Monday 8th March, and so there is still time to donate. If you
have friends you think might be interested in supporting the Healthcare
workers in this way please feel free to share the justgiving page.

With Best Wishes

Keith Parker