Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

I plan to climb the UK three peaks (Snowdon, Scafell Pike and Ben Nevis), raising money for the Railway Children's charity. 

I understand that at various stages of the year you will receive many invites to give charitable donations to good causes. For me, this charity has a very personal touch that I hope you can relate to and donate whatever you can for this great cause.  

Reasons For Doing This

On the 4th October 2011 my sister made me a proud uncle to a little boy called Harry. Harry enjoys playing with his dog (or as he says, 'his best friend' ) Archie, playing tag (although its always your turn to chase him) and causing as much mischief as he possibly can for my sister. Luckily for Harry, we don't mind him expressing himself in anyway he feels as we love him regardless. However, for many children in Britain this is not the case. 

In the UK, a child runs away from home every 5 minutes. 

That's 100,000 children under 16 a year, and 70% of those children are never even reported missing by those who are supposed to love and protect them.

To put it in perspective, by the time you have finished reading this, it is highly likely that another child has left home. Unwanted, unloved and often abused, children find themselves alone and at risk on the streets simply because there's nowhere else to go and no one left to turn to.

Harry likes to think he can take on world. He regularly reminds me that he doesn't need help with his drink anymore and that he knows how to set his Thomas the tank engine toy set up. Many children that leave home think the same. After years of abuse children try to escape in hope of a better life thinking they can survive on their own.  

However, the streets are often even more dangerous and frightening than the homes these children were desperate to escape.

Violence becomes a way of life; something to be endured and often a necessary means of survival. Sexual abuse and exploitation is rife. Drug use often seeps into the lives of children living on the streets and becomes impossible to avoid; drugs are often the only available escape from the hopelessness of their situation.

For many people reading this it is not something you can relate to. We, including myself, have been brought into the world with a loving family and been given the opportunities in life that every child deserves. Luckily for Harry, he is part of this majority. 

However, there is a minority. And these children don't get the love they deserve. I could not imagine Harry on the streets, taking on the world. I don't think any child should every experience this and I am sure that you agree.

The Charity

The Railway Children give a child who is cold, hungry and frightened warmth, food and shelter. They provide someone to talk to, someone to trust, and a safe place to be. From there, they assess a child's individual situation and what they need in the longer term. If it's appropriate, they help them return home. If not, they help them find other solutions. They provide protection and opportunity for children with nowhere else to go and nobody to turn to.

The Task

The challenge involves climbing Snowdon, Scafell Pike and Ben Nevis and takes place on June 19th. It is a grueling task which I am undertaking with seven other friends at Aviva. The training has already commenced and we are hoping to complete the task in good time! Pictures of our trip will be uploaded for all to enjoy once we have have completed the climb and returned home on June 21st. 

One Last Thanks

I hope you can relate to the reasons why I doing this. It might be that you have children yourself. Or it could be like me that you have nieces/nephews/younger siblings or simply a friends child that you could not ever imagine spending a night on the streets. Any support that you can give would be greatly appreciated not just by me, but everyone who is working to stop this at the Railway Children's Charity. 

Thank you so much for your help.