Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.  I've set this up in order to continue to support Anandaban Hospital in Nepal with all the amazing medical and practical work they do to help people affected by leprosy.  My time there had a profound effect on me - these people are facing such huge challenges in their lives with their disabilities and the stigma they have to endure, yet they are grateful for the smallest amount of help.  I will always remember people like Dhak, so pleased and proud of the single gas ring that The Leprosy Mission provided for him that has made such a difference to his life, or Dipak's sister's gratitude for the cramped and very basic new house her family has been given which she says is "so beautiful".  My experiences in Nepal have made me realise that I take so much for granted, living comfortably here in the West.  In particular, I think of the bare homes and lack of even simple possessions that I witnessed, whereas I have so much "stuff".  So I hope you, my family and friends, will not be offended if I ask you not to give me Christmas or birthday presents in future but to donate the money you would have spent to Anandaban Hospital instead.  It will give me so much more pleasure knowing that a person affected by leprosy will benefit - and you will not have to hunt around the shops for a pressie for me!  

Although this page is linked to The Leprosy Mission, I have been assured by them that they will allocate a funding code to any donations made which will channel all the funds raised by my page directly to projects at Anandaban Hospital.  Having seen the wonderful work they are doing - real people being helped with real problems - I want to do all I can to enable this work to continue.

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 and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it’s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.

So please remember - when it comes to Christmases or my birthdays, you no longer have to worry about what to buy me!!  Thank you all in advance.