I am turning 40 at the end of January and I can't think of anything I need or want for presents. I have so many free Body Shop products and I'm picky about gifts that are tested on animals or not eco friendly. I hardly drink anymore and can't really eat chocolates due to my Rhumatoid Arthritus conditions. So without sounding ungrateful I'd love you to make a donation instead of buying me a birthday gift. A nice text, call or zoom will be better than a card for me this year due to shielding! 

This is my third month working as an Independant Body Shop At Home Consultant. I am loving it much more than I thought I would and it has changed the way I think about so many things! I have been so moved finding out about the amazing fundraising the company does for Children on the Edge (COTE).  I've just become a COTE Champion for Region Gemini. 

I have decided to start running again and I'm unsure why I have actually stopped. After listening to a great podcast - In the habbit, by Ash Ranpura and Alice Fraser I've decided that setting myself a public challenge with small steps  will help me get back into the running habbit! 

So keeping with this years theme of 40, I'm going for lots of small runs (doesn't matter on my speed) and aiming to do 40km in 40 days. This might sound easy to some or impossible to others. 

I'm also hoping that 40 friends will help me by posting a photo of them running or their run! 

There is more information about COTE below but what touched my heart the most was that these children don't have the bare basics for learning. 

In this current lockdown, we are worried our children don't have enough computers or that they are getting board of their (boxes full) of toys. We are worried about the impact of a few months of missed schooling will do to children in this country, whereas COTE may never have access to education in their lifetime. 

In one video it said "many children start out not even knowing what a computer is or why they would need it" 

Across The Body Shop at Home we are fundraising for Children on the Edge; to bring hope, life, colour and fun to children living on the edge of society.Children on the Edge was sparked into life by Dame Anita Roddick over 30 years ago. Not long after this The Body Shop At Home began to support them. Children on the Edge supports over 15,000 of the worlds most marginalised children to realise their rights. In India, Uganda, Bangladesh, Myanmar and Lebanon they help create protective environments where children can thrive.In 2021 our support can help Dalit children in India to access education, develop community activism and grow in confidence; helping to break the cycle of discrimination.

Thank you for taking the time to read my story and I hope you will support me!