For my forty-somethingth birthday this year, I'm asking for donations to Connect: North Korea. They are a small British charity helping North Korean refugees (who now live in the UK) to start a new life after fleeing such a terrible regime.

Those of you who know me well, will know I have long had an interest in North Korea (or the DPRK as it prefers to be known). Although I do enjoy the funny memes about Kim Jong Un etc, I *also* know that North Korea can be a brutal nation-sized prison, with unspeakable conditions for those who anger the regime in some way...

Those who escape, risk their lives to do so, and usually have to leave their entire families behind, possibly to suffer punishment in their absence.

I've set the fundraising goal amount as a modest £79, as I was born in '79 🌝

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.