Thanks for taking the time to visit my 41 Club JustGiving page.

In my teens, a few(!) years ago, I spent a weekend walking around and around my village raising money for a new charity called SHELTER. I got a badge saying "I'm a SHELTER Helper"  - still have it somewhere. When I came to consider what charity I would like to support in my Presidential Year it was an easy decision when I found out how the Charity had developed.

SHELTER helps millions of people every year struggling with bad housing or homelessness, through advice, support and legal services. They campaign to make sure that, one day, no one will have to turn to them for help. No one should have to face bad housing or homelessness on their own.

I would like to try to raise £50,000 for SHELTER in my year. I hope that our proposed cycle ride from John O' Groats to Land's End - JOGLE - will be supported by donations to SHELTER through JustGiving. I am being accompanied by my friend, near neighbour and fellow 41er Colin Bowater. We have been training for some months and we hope to complete the ride between 15-30 July, meeting up with lots of 41 Clubs en-route.

In my inaugural speech at the AGM, I asked that each 41er make a donation of £14.50, equivalent to one year's National Capitation or one bottle of wine at a restaurant - what a figure that would give if everyone did that! Remember that our grace says "may we be ever mindful of those less fortunate". SHELTER helps those people.

Finally I would like to reassure the Scots, Welsh and Irish among  you that monies donated by you will be directed back to your home version of SHELTER.

Many thanks for reading this. I hope I have got over my message.

Yours in continued friendship

Barry Durman
National President of 41 Club

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving as they will never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they will send your money directly to the charity. So it's the most efficient way to donate, saving time and cutting costs for the charity.