Story
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #333399; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;">Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page - I have finally done the crazy thing of signing up for the London Marathon! Whilst it is tough training in the cold, wet and dark winter months, I remember why I am running the marathon - to support a worthy cause - a local charity called Greenshoots.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #333399; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #333399; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Greenshoots is part of the Ways and Means Trust and works with around 40 individuals with recurring mental ill health or a learning disability between the ages of 18 and 75 providing vocational training - based around therapeutic horticultural activity. They also offer classroom activities including numeracy and literacy skills and general horticultural practice.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #333399; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></span> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #333399; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Whilst some will stay with them indefinitely, others may go on to find employment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But there’s one thing for sure, for those they support, Greenshoots not only provides a truly beneficial experience through learning - but it enables them to get out, socialise and learn new skills.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For many of them, if Greenshoots didn’t exist, they would be housebound, often alone, or find themselves vulnerable and open to exploitation on the streets.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #333399; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Whilst they support 40 individuals at Greenshoots – there are another 500 in the local area who could benefit from their help.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s why raising funds is vital to their survival.</span><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #333399; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #333399; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">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.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #333399; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;">So please dig deep and donate now.</span></span></p>