Hello, and welcome to Veronica & Trev's 'Just Giving' page.

Well, I've decided it's time I did something useful for a change.  Too many years of going out 'on the lash' have taken their toll on Trevor (the Dog) & me.  Trevor's getting a little older and needs to be taking more care of himself, and I feel the need to do something useful and make a small contribution towards my use of the planet Earth!

So, in aid of my 50th, and Trev's 6th birthday celebrations - both on 4 July 2013 - we've decided I should do a 'short' walk along the Great Wall of China, the walk will be in April 2014. 

Trevor has decided, the best way for me to achieve the degree of fitness necessary to do this walk is to put our lives into reverse - this means he will become the 'trainer' and I will be the 'trainee'.  A dog telling you what to do - sounds scary - wow, is that dog going to get his own back or what!!

After spending a great deal of time deliberating & researching various charities and worthwhile causes the one I've chosen is the British Bee Keepers Association.

There are many reasons for my choice, but basically - sometimes I think it's very important to get the 'basics' right and look at the 'big picture of life'.

Here are some simple & interesting facts I've copied from the BBKA www.bbka.org.uk website:-

• Bees are pollinators vital to our food chain. One third of the food we eat would not be available but for bees.
• Bees, like other insects, are part of a food chain.
• The social life of the honey bee colony provides a controversial start to thinking about the structure of societies.
• The tools which have evolved on the limbs and mouthparts of bees are neat examples of adaptation and engineering.
• The harvest from honey bees of honey, pollen, wax and propolis has nutritional, craft, manufacturing, and medical applications.
• Pollination by bees is important for genetic sustainability. Genes that have evolved in other animals are important to our future, too.

In the UK about 70 crops are dependent on, or benefit from, visits from bees. In addition, bees pollinate the flowers of many plants which become part of the feed of farm animals. The economic value of honey bees and bumble bees as pollinators of commercially grown insect pollinated crops in the UK has been estimated at over £200 million per year.

Bees are in danger of disappearing from our environment. Farming practices continue to disturb the natural habitats and forage of solitary and bumblebees at a rate which gives them little chance for re-establishment. The honey bee is under attack from the varroa mite and it is only the treatment and care provided by beekeepers that is keeping colonies alive. Most wild honey bee colonies have died out as a result of this disease.

These factors, coupled with a decline in the number of beekeepers in the UK, have prompted the production of the 'Bees in the Curriculum' Schools pack by the British Beekeepers Association (BBKA). Attitudes to bees must change and a new generation needs to be educated into the value of bees and the threats to their existence.

The people who know me, will understand that for me to participate in a 'basic needs' adventure holiday will put me well out of 'comfort zone' - I am a 'power shower, Club Class and Champagne girl' not a camping, basic needs & trekking person - & worst of all, I'll have to have injections!.  However, I always need a goal to be working towards and recent changes in my life have given me the fortunate option to be able to 're-evalute' my goals.  My plan is to keep this 'Just Giving' page open until 01/05/14.  By this point, (hey, you never know) I may have decided my 'forte' in life has become that of helping worthy causes - although, I have my doubts - even I can't be that 'riteous'!

Between now and 01/05/14 I will regularly update this page and let you know how well Trevor the Trainer is working his magic and what we've been up to to raise money for the BBKA.

So, please - no birthday or Christmas presents for Trev or me (only until 01/05/14 mind!), but all donations to our 'Just Giving' page in aid of the BBKA will be very gratefully accepted.

Thank you & very best wishes from

Veronica & Trevor the Dog x