Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

 

I know in the current economic climate it's not always easy to find any spare cash, but please have a look at the work Women for Women International does and give what you can. Visit http://www.womenforwomen.org.uk and my blog at http://jackie-everest-trek.blogspot.com for lots more information. Or if you're pushed for time just watch the video on this page.

 

I'm paying for the cost of the trek myself so all the money you donate will go directly to Women for Women International UK.

 

This is going to be a trip of a lifetime for me. I've not been very adventurous in the past and love my home comforts, but I've reached a point in my life when I want to push myself outside my comfort zone.

 

The trek itself is going to be quite a physical challenge for me, and for the whole team, I'm sure. But at this point I'm more focussed on the challenge of raising the huge sum of £10,000. I've done quite a lot of fundraising before, and in recent years, with the support of many kind friends and members of my family, have achieved some tidy sums. But the sums have mostly been in the hundreds rather than the thousands. I did not commit myself to this cause lightly. I believe the work of WFWI does really change the lives of the women it directly helps and has a tremendous ripple effect on the communities they live in.

 

Women for Women International is a truly amazing charity. It helps women who are overcoming seemingly insurmountable challenges every day of their lives. It supports women in war zones - in countries like Iraq, Afghanistan, Sudan, Rwanda, Congo and many others. Many are widows who have experienced untold brutality and now have nothing.

 

In war, armies often torture and rape women, leaving them feeling violated and powerless. Not only this, many are forced to witness the death of their loved ones or become separated from them.

 

To start with, Women for Women International provides the women with direct aid for their immediate needs, such as food, clothing and medication. But the charity does not just help in the short term - it provides a year-long training programme to give women the confidence and skills to be able to get a job or set up their own business.

 

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 Women for Women International UK 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.