Marilyn and I are both 65 this year and it is also our 40th wedding anniversary in August.  We want to do something a bit different to mark it.  So we are going to spend five weeks on the Wales Coast Path.  We are not taking the car, just carrying what we need from place to place.  In that time we hope to get from Benllech in Anglesey to Cardigan, a total of 342 miles of which we are aiming to walk at least 250 (and take local buses or trains for the rest).

We have both been working voluntarily for the last few years in the City of Sanctuary movement, which promotes welcome for those seeking sanctuary in UK from violence or persecution in their own countries.  This will be a break for us from committee-type responsibilites, and we thought we'd try to raise money for the group of asylum seekers who are in the most desperate straits.

The people we want to help fled from their homes in fear and hoped to find safety and protection in UK.  But their story was not believed and their application for asylum was turned down.  While waiting for a decision an asylum seeker is not allowed to work but gets basic accommodation and a meagre allowance.  However, once refused they have to leave that accommodation, get no money at all, and are still not allowed to work.  A few return 'home' voluntarily and some are forcibly 'removed' but many cannot go 'home' or are so afraid that anything is better than that, and stay here destitute.

We are supporting two charities which help destitute refused asylum seekers here in Wales.  The Welsh Refugee Council (WRC) gives small amounts (£5 or £10 per week) through their Hardship Fund, just to keep people going at the most basic level.  And here in Swansea the SHARE Tawe project finds local people who will offer accommodation in their spare rooms - we have ourselves had several 'guests' staying for diffeent periods who have all really enhanced our lives.

Money you give through this page will go to WRC.  They will use half of it for their Hardship Fund so that every pound goes directly to help people who are destitute.  They will transfer the other half to the SHARE Tawe project to help us find more voluntary hosts and to pay up to £20 per week for the hosts' expenses or for a bus pass or bicycle so that people can be hosted outside the city centre.

We would love it if you sponsored us per mile up to our target of 250 miles.  We'd love it even more if you committed to a regular contribution to SHARE Tawe - visit their webpage for how to do it.  Or you could make a one-off donation here through JustGiving, which 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 WRC who will split the funds as described.

So please help us reach our target of £5,000 ([plus £100 per month for SHARE Tawe).