Thanks for taking the time to find out what I am doing. I will really appreciate any help you can give. I have watched with awe (and the pleasure brought by the efforts of others) the escapades and derring-do of many of you in the search for greater challenges to earn rewards for your causes. My day has come! 

It is 20 years since my last fundraising attempt for a charity, it took a long time to get over that. I am on a 20 year cycle. Not a cycle that lasts 20 years, more a cycle every 20 years. You shouldn't expect heroics.

On 9th may, I will start on a 3 day trek north starting in Beverley, Yorkshire and  ending in Edinburgh late on Friday. Of course, you will appreciate that my journey is all uphill going north. I don't expect not to get there, but the effort is not to be entirely dismissed. I may not be completely fragrant by the end. My shorts  may be a little looser.

More important than the change it will make to me, is the difference it can make for Friends of the Earth. Many of you will know that I care deeply about the environment. Friends of the Earth is a source of intelligent, non-partisan research, analysis and provocative thought. It is a major contributor to economic and environmental policy debate, widely respected by policy makers for the quality of its work. It is not anti-capitalist or anti-corporate, it is pro-environment and pro-people. It sees things differently and challenges us to do the same. I see it as an important participant in society, a voice for the underdog environment,  a balance to vested interest, a challenge to received and self-interested thinking. It is above all a professional, constructive and solutions based organisation.

Friends of the Earth is funded entirely by donations and by its members. Like all research and campaigning charities, the beneficiaries are for the most part unaware of the efforts made on their behalf. The beneficiaries are us, the object is an environment we can live within. 

The economic times we live in make it harder for all charities to raise funds, particularly where the fruits of work are intangible or long term. There are no quick fixes of improved lives of  children or animals or sick to show. Paradoxically, it is at times like this that long term sustainable thinking is most important. Decisions are being made that effect the environment, and so our economy and society, for decades to come. With the legacy of these decisions affecting most acutely our children and theirs, I see it as a matter of generational, personal and intellectual responsibility to allow the debate to be balanced and well informed. Ignoring the facts and leaving it for our descendants to work out is not an option for me. We have a deep environmental defecit to deal with too!

You may not agree with me, or indeed with the thoughts above. That's ok. It's because there are a range of views that  it is important that all can be heard. If you feel able to support my efforts, I will be personally very grateful to you. Friends of the Earth will benefit enormously. Some good will come of that.

 

You know this bit.  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 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.

Thank you for reading this far!