Helloo, thanks so much for dropping by!

As many of you may or (most likely) may not know, I write a lot about happiness: How to be happy, how to stay strong in the face of adversity - that kind of stuff. I am a firm advocate of fun and frivolity: a lover of the silly stuff. 

This has been relatively easy - because life has thrown me so many wonderful opportunities and so much love; I've got a lot of material. 

You see, I was fortunate enough to be born into a country where running water, women's rights and education were basic freedoms granted to everybody. And so, instead of fighting for our basic human rights, we could focus on other exciting creative pursuits. 

But the truth is, there is still so much pain, hardship and unnecessary suffering. The fight still continues. 

So, I'm flying to India with VSO - who bring people together to tackle poverty.

I'll be volunteering with Pravah - a really exciting grassroots organisation based in New Delhi doing some amazing, influential work and creating real change within rural communities.  

Our team of 30 will be working alongside volunteers from India to help promote education, basic rights to water and youth development, while tackling social injustices. 

Pravah's philosophy is derived from this wonderful saying: 

"The earth does not belong to man, man belongs to the earth. All things are connected, like the blood, which unites one family. Whatever befalls the earth befalls the sons of the earth. Man did not weave the web of life; he is merely a strand in it. Whatever he does to the web, he does to himself."

We're all in this together. 

There is no short-term fix. VSO is all about long-term, sustainable development that really makes a difference. 

Pravah is youth focused and uses grassroots campaigns to tackle issues: Through educating and inspiring todays' youth, we can have so much more confidence that tomorrow will be a better day.

The organisation uses creative mediums to mobilize public opinion against violence, and believes prevention is better than cure: Rather than waiting for conflict to arise and then trying to fix the problem, Pravah works to engage positively from the outset.

My kind of stuff. 

And when I come back I'll continue to work with VSO to combat causes closer to home, as well as overseas. 

This really is a fantastically worthwhile cause, which has already affected and will continue to benefit so many lives. 

I plan to raise £800 and will be running Bristol Half Marathon (at a medium/slow pace no doubt) in September. I'll also be throwing some super fun events and the odd bake sale for good measure. 

Any sponsorship/support how ever little is soo appreciated! It will be used so that this fantastic work may continue. 

In classic Sazzle style I'll be documenting the whole narrative on my blog. There will be amusing anecdotes and embarrassing stories as well as the odd uplifting and informative piece. 

Follow sebarratt.wordpress.com (go on... it's always nice to have a follower who isn't a blood relative). Or hit me up on twitter or instagram where I'll be posting embarrassing photos from training sessions and other such lark. OR, if you're in need of a really good laugh you can even follow me on Strava. 

So little time, so many sources of humiliation.

But it's all in the name of something really fantastic which will benefit so many!

Whatever you do - just get involved! We're all in this together remember?!

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