Sharon is a 77 year old pensioner living in Buckinghamshire, just outside of Bicester. I have met her through the befriending service organised by the charity AgeUK. I have only been visiting her for the last 2 months, yet we have struck up a friendship based on a very similar outlook on life, sarcastic sense of humour and a love for animals and anything dark chocolate. Like myself, she is not fond of May or Trump, so it was a perfect match from the start!

Sharon is a very resilient tough cookie who has had a very hard life, although she had not let the harsh things that have happened to her break her witty and generous spirit. Like most elderly people however, she has some health issues holding her back and her family is not immediately around to help her. Unfortunately to make it all worse Sharon has been robbed twice in the last year. Once someone broke into her home while she was sleeping, stealing money and personal belongings. This has left her with severe anxiety and panic attack issues, and a natural feeling of vulnerability in her own home. The second time, last week, after going to the bank to retrieve some money for a visit to the hair dresser and vet fees for her dog (whom she loves more than anything in the world, very much like me and my cat Polly!), a street robber managed to get into her bag and steal the envelope containing £300.

This really upset her and majorly set her back, both financially and emotionally.

Realistically, even if the robbers are caught, she is very unlikely to see any of that money back.

When I visited her after the accident, a once very chatty humorous lady was extremely low and deflated, and I could tell she was in a place where she is trying to hold onto some faith in humanity, but after what has happened to her in the last few months, it is understandably a hard thing to have.

I would like to change that, by recovering what she has lost so she can take her dog to the vets and have one less thing to worry about. I hope this will not only help her financially, but more importantly show her that there are a lot of people out there who care for those who are very often forgotten behind and not supported when in need. I know she would be humbled and extremely moved by any help that may come her way.

She is very generous and giving, but is very stubborn when it comes to accepting help, I am hoping that raising the sum in this way will help her accept it without feeling indebted to anyone in particular.

Times are hard at present, public services are underfunded, bills and the cost of life keep rising and rising, and vulnerable people are always hit the hardest.

We can counteract this by engaging in small yet powerful acts of kindness towards each other, people we know and strangers alike, so to restore a little bit of hope and faith in the human spirit, bringing people together instead of apart.

Any donation, big or small will help get Sharon back on her feet, and restore her good old fighting spirit!

I may be overly optimistic here (but hopefully not!), anything raised over £300 will be donated to AgeUK, for the wonderful work they do with vulnerable elderly members of our communities.

Thank you every one for taking the time to read and your willingness to help!!!

Carolina x