Hi all,

I know a few of you are aware of some of the charity work that I am involved in, specifically for Diversity Role Models. I wanted to take this opportunity to start to raise a little awareness but also to help by fundraising and pushing myself to do something extreme for a cause that is very close to my heart for multiple reasons.

I will undertake (at my own cost not out of the sponsorship) an accelerated freefall skydive, meaning that I will learn and undertake a 15,000ft skydive in one day and do the jump unaided, with an instructor jumping with me but otherwise solo. The thought of doing this terrifies me (I kid you not), and I am looking for sponsorship to help the DRM continue their (and our) amazing and hard work.

Diversity Role Models actively seeks to prevent homophobic, biphobic and transphobic bullying in United Kingdom schools. We aim to stop bullying before it happens by educating all young people about differences in sexuality and gender identity, but most importantly for all children is that we teach them that no matter what, they have a right to be themselves, and that bullying of all forms is ugly and vile.

We communicate with students directly, using positive role models to counter negative stereotypes (of which I am one). We help LGB and T young people to feel confident. We help their classmates to understand, accept and welcome the differences they notice in others.

The charity does so much more than deal with just LGBT issues, but tackles the core of bullying by educating on all forms of discrimination and differences. We simply teach kids that no matter what, to be brave and strong and through the role models that all differences are cause for celebration and not destruction or hate.

We recently launched a report in parliament to highlight out the success of the charity and its impact, but also the model that we apply and why this approach with children works, the link is here…

https://www.diversityrolemodels.org/media/1331/drm_embracing-diversity-ending-bullying-2016.pdf

Being a parent myself, facing daily discrimination and having to face a life time of demons to be myself, I strongly believe that our children deserve better and great change happens with them and not us. That they deserve a world that they're able to grow up and be their true authentic selves, and that is one that is something worth fighting for. It's a basic human right and that being comfortable in themselves is indicative to creating future generations of success.

So please do dig deep as I am really really SCARED of doing this, but through braveness for a better future I believe it to be very important.

Thank you for reading!

Tori X