Thanks for joining me to celebrate my birthday.

The fact that you're coming is more than enough and I don't want or need anything more than that.

But if you really want to mark the occassion beyond joining me for dinner you could join me in supporting a cause that's close to my heart.

In Uganda, the Big Fix run the Comfort Dog Project. It supports survivors of the civil war by providing them with a dog. The dog and their new guardian receive intensive training and support. The people participating in thhe programme become part of a peer support group and are supported to build a therapeutic relationship with their dog.

It's transforming the lives of people with severe trauma as well as people's beliefs about dogs, which are often feared, because of the risk of dog bites and rabies.

The Big Fix, also run northern Uganada's only veterinary clinic, from which they undertake community based rabies vaccination campaigns. I love that they're tackling human-animal health and welfare on multiple fronts.

It's an amazing organisation doing really important work on a shoestring and it would be lovely to share the privilege and benefits of our friendship with them, but I really don't want you to feel any obligation.

If you want to know more about the Comfort Dog Project a peer reviewed journal article on the benefits of the programme has recently been published. I wouldn't support something that's not backed by rigorous science ;) https://bit.ly/3wiZqDs