What to do?

With everyday costs increasing year on year, the intention for 2025 was to help a charity.

A bake sale was not an option!

Although - come to think of it - people may pay me not to force my atrocious cooking on them... in hindsight I might have raised thousands of pounds. Oops, maybe 2026!

So, like anyone else with no appreciable skills, I have signed up for 5 Ultra Events in 2025.

Yes 5! 1 wasn't enough for my brain apparently.

(One of the events isn't technically an ultra, but with 3,500 metres of elevation in 27km in balmy Greece it will feel like one!)

But which charity?

After hearing the news of the tanker crash in the North Sea my brain started churning with the impending ecological impact and what - if anything - could be done. When sleep finally came that night it was filled with childhood nightmares of oil stricken birds and dying marine life.

That decided it for me, British Divers Marine Life Rescue was my charity for 2025.

Not heard of them?

They are an amazing charity filled with passionate volunteers all proud to hold their heads up high.

Starting with Seal rescues in 1988 British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) have been involved in the rescue of various marine wildlife after every major marine disaster. Far from being just about seals, BDMLR are involved in the rescues of other species such as whales, dolphins and porpoise too. Not to mention being founder members of Marc (Marine Animal Rescue Coalition).

1000 volunteer Marine Mammal Medics are trained every year to enable them to respond to call outs and act on behalf of that animal's best interest. 43 courses were held last year.

You can be a medic anywhere, but there is a shortage of medics in Scotland, find out more here.

2024 saw a total of 3,138 call outs.

3036 Seals

78 Dolphins

24 Whales

Let's help them protect more marine mammals (and keep me pushing on as I take on a total of 12,652 metres of ascent, 8,985 metres of descent over a distance of 314km).

Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page and reading my waffle!

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. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity.