Before you scroll past,

I am not asking you to save bugs or anything- feel free to carry on squashing those. The picture is supposed to be ironic- look how much time/money has been invested in that bug hotel!! This post is hoping to get people to invest in a home for a real live person ;someone that I personally know, who is so amazing despite life trying to squish her all the time.

Her name is Gertrude. Not really of course, this is an alias but I have to find strategies to keep you reading. I have to admit, if most of you asked me to sponsor you I would probably scroll merrily past with better things to do with my time, unless you were running a marathon or something!!!! But I am really hoping you are all nicer than me and could just read the next paragraph 👩‍❤️‍💋‍(Pretty please)

Gertrude has been living in fear for the last few years. Her husband is controlling and irrational. Her kids have been living in a state of anxiety. This has increased significantly since Gertrude enrolled on a training course which in a year and a half will guarantee her own salary. At the moment she is living on a bursary. Gertrude has been desensitised to the level of relentless stress and heightened emotion that they live under. However with new people in her life, and phone calls from her kids school, she has realised she should not have to put up with domestic abuse, despite other family members telling her she should stay put.

Last week she took the two kids and left.

I felt ecstatic. Finally she had used every ounce of strength she had left to just do it, regardless of the consequences. She has barely managed to rent a house with the help of friends (not family) to lend her deposit money and guarantor her rent. Her two teenage kids are relieved and yet anxious. They now have two weeks before they move in to an unfurnished house. With domestic abuse it is the time that you move out that is the most dangerous, as the victim tries to take back the control. So the move has been sudden and many things have had to be left behind.

So I am having a go at crowdfunding towards furniture. They are going to need everything from beds and bedding to tables and chairs to pots and pans and plates. I can't imagine this post will get shared far and wide, it's not like someone is dying. So I guess I am hoping that my friends and family who live in ivory towers (like myself) who have parents that would help them in their hour of need and people around them that would help them to leave an unhealthy relationship, might be able to lend a hand to my incredibly brave friend in her time of need.

Since I am feeling incredibly emotional writing this I am going to finish with some cold hard facts.

1) 95%of any money raised will go direct to Gertrude and her family. 5% goes to the justgiving page for card processing and site management fees Apparently.

2) In case any of you decide to donate, I will probably get all the credit from Gertrude and will feel good about myself and I won't have had to run a marathon or sit in a tub of beans or throw ice at myself. I (well james) will however be helping Gertrude financially in case you had a thought about that.

3) I have just burnt my gluten free pizza whilst typing this story.

Thanks for reading this through to the end. Just to add I know many people have their own charities with which they give to so obviously don't feel that you have to give to this one. (Obviously I don't mean that cos she is desperate).

Thanks to anyone who decides to donate even a small amount (I know Xmas is coming) Small amounts add up!