Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.  On August 30th I will be swimming four and a half kilometres across the Hellespont - thats the stretch of water near Istanbul which separates Europe from Asia.  I am doing it to raise funds for Hestia’s crucial work with children who are homeless as a result of domestic violence.

Each year in the , 750,000 children experience violence and abuse within their family, and around 23,000 are forced to flee with their mothers to the safety of a refuge.   Every day, hundreds are helped by Hestia's domestic violence refuges and community outreach services in . 

For children, the stress of being part of a violent home and the upheaval of fleeing is particularly confusing.  Some are just babies, and most are aged under 10, so they find it difficult to understand what has happened.  This is why the activities and practical support that Hestia provides for each child is so important.  It gives them the chance to just be children, and to have the decent food, clothes and care that they need to grow up healthy.

£30 will pay for a pack of emergency food, clothing, toys and nappies for a child arriving at one of our refuges.  £20 will pay for cookery or craft materials for several play sessions, and £5 will pay for food for a family on their first night in a refuge.   I am funding all of the travel and entry costs for the event personally, so I can guarantee that every pound that you give will directly benefit vulnerable children.  You can be assured that what you give will have a lifelong impact on children, who often have had little joy in their lives.

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. 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 for your support.