Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

On Saturday 9 October, a friend and I will be walking the Axe River from its source in Dorset to its mouth in East Devon - a trek of around 29 miles. Given that the walk takes us through some very green and lush farmland, it seemed appropriate to raise funds for people whose land isn't as fertile.

Farm Africa works with smallholders and herders in Ethiopia, Uganda, Sudan and Kenya, helping them manage their resources effectively and build sustainable livelihoods. I was lucky enough to work with them briefly, visiting some of the people they've helped in Ethiopia. These are families who've been hit, year on year, with appalling droughts and often live on small plots of land that are very poor quality. One woman I met made 50p a week selling firewood, never enough to feed her children properly.

But thanks to the introduction of something as simple as a brood of chickens, many families' lives have been transformed. They can now feed their children with protein-rich eggs and have enough left over to sell, funding vital school materials. Life-changing stuff, in short.  

I really hope you can help out. 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.

So please, if you can, donate now.