To celebrate my 50th birthday, I am raising funds to transform Bankura's Home of Love - a place where many elderly people affected by leprosy live because they have been rejected by their families. I have fond memories of visiting this special place in 2022 and cannot wait to return in October.

One of the women I met there is Niyoti and this is her story:

Niyoti’s life was shattered at age 14 when she was forced into marriage, then abandoned by her husband when she couldn't give him a child and then she contracted leprosy.

The disease was caught too late to prevent permanent damage; she lost feeling in her limbs, faced cruel rejection from her village, and eventually had to have her leg amputated. With no family left to care for her, Niyoti thought her life was over.

29 years ago, Niyoti was welcomed into Bankura's Home of Love. Here, she received a prosthetic leg, regained her independence, and found a family of others affected by the disease who understand her journey. Today, she spends her days gardening and laughing with her best friend, Ratan.

While the home is filled with love, the building itself is in desperate need of repair. It hasn't been renovated in decades.

Residents currently struggle with:

* Damp, dark rooms without adequate lighting.

* Unsanitary communal toilets.

* No relief from the intense heat.

To celebrate turning 50, I want to ensure Niyoti and her friends live their later years in comfort and dignity.

I would love to raise £1,320 which will fully renovate Niyoti's room. The walls and windows will be replaced, the room will be redecorated, air-con will be installed and she will have a private en-suite bathroom!

Your kindness won't just repair a building; it will provide a warm, dignified home for those who have lost everything to leprosy.

Thank you so much for your generosity,

Wend xxx