Hi everyone,

Well, who would've believed it? Me, Elizabeth Rakic, former fag ash Lil, white wine connoisseur and lover of most forms of unhealthy food, is finally turning it around, has joined a gym (and is actually going), invested in a Fitbit and will be challenging myself to walk the Great Wall of China for an amazing cause - the NSPCC. Yeah, I wouldn't've  believed it either!

Seriously, though, when you think of it, our children are truly blessed, coming from loving families with food on the table, a roof over their heads, and with very little to actually worry about, unlike the children the NSPCC help.

Having raised four children myself, I'm acutely aware of the trials and tribulations that parenting entails. I've faced a myriad of challenges but have successfully managed to turn my helpless infants into mature and happy adults (so they tell me!). However, since working in education, I've come to realise that positive parenting and the safe care-giving of children is not a given. It's something that's bestowed to most, but sadly, not all. Some children suffer abuse and neglect from the very people who should be providing that care-giving. The NSPCC work directly with such children and their families in service centres across the UK, collaborating with frontline professionals, helping to find solutions to the issues that some families experience. Did you know:

• that in 2017 over 51,000 children in the UK were identified as needing protection
• that after years in decline, suicide rates are rising for 15-19 year olds
• that offences relating to indecent images of children are increasing
• that reports of sexual offences against children has increased sharply
• there's an increase in the number of suspected trafficked children
• that reports on the number of offences of cruelty and neglect is increasing
• online, sexual, physical and emotional abuse - all on the increase

I've chosen to fundraise in support of the very valuable work that the NSPCC undertakes. Their passion and commitment to affect happy, healthy children in an ever changing world is inspiring but also difficult.

So, dear friends, friends of friends, family members and random (but very much appreciated) donors on the internet, dig deep, give generously and join me (and my ever aching bones) in supporting the NSPCC so that together we can help change childhoods and better their futures.  Thank you x

Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

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.