Marsha Sanders
Marsha's Refugee Tales Appeal
Fundraising for Gatwick Detainee Welfare Group
Story
Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.
Refugee Tales is not just a brilliant concept based on the Canterbury Tales, it is also a wonderful, compassionate, vibrant outreach project of Gatwick Detainee Welfare Group that brings together 150 people of diverse ages and ethnicities to walk and talk and hear the stories of some of our fellow walkers who are ex detainees.
GDWG is a small charity that makes a giant difference to people held in detention at Gatwick. People in detention are held indefinitely and the uncertainty of how long they will be kept in a cell has a terrible impact on mental and physical health. For 25 years GDWG visitors has been offering friendship to strangers, bearing witness to the realities of detention and making weekly visits to people who would otherwise be isolated. The stories of people who have been detained are shared in three volumes of 'Refugee Tales' published by Comma Press and, every year on a long walk, the stories are shared in evening events. This year the events will be online and walking will be socially distanced or in isolation.
To celebrate 25 years of GDWG being a lifeline to those in detention I am doing something ordinary or extraordinary every day for 25 days. If I could, I would be walking with Refugee Tales for 5 days but as this isn't possible during Covid-19 I will be reporting on my activities - which may amuse or annoy you (in a good way, of course!). But, as you continue being locked down in your safe and comfortable spaces, it will hopefully remind you of those who are locked up in threatening and difficult circumstances.
The work of the charity is needed more than ever today with people released from detention to destitution and homelessness and GDWG stepping in to offer support. This is a tough time for small charities, so please show your support for those whose plight is frequently invisible and give generously to GDWG and Refugee Tales.
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. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity.