Dear Friends. 

The 4th November is my Birthday. How has another year flown by??

I am SO lucky - I don't want for anything. But my friend Liz and her team of nine, who care for over 450 rescued primates at the Born Free USA Primate Sanctuary in Texas, need help. Their houses are falling down. Would you give them a gift to celebrate my day of birth? 

Liz and her team are extraordinary. They work 7 days a week, starting at 06.00 each morning and ending only when the sun goes down. 

In particular, Liz's house has been taken over by local wildlife - raccoons and snakes - which she gently encourages to leave but are now coming through the floor and walls. Her house has reached the end of the road and must be replaced with something new. 

It will certainly not be anything fancy. A wooden cabin which will cost about $65,000 (£50,000) and measuring about 600 square feet. The individual staff houses (we need two) measure just 400 square feet and will cost about $50,000 (£39,000) each.

My mission is to make sure that as much money as possible goes to the care of the animals but we cannot ignore the needs of Liz and her team. They live on-site and are miles from the nearest town. They need and deserve a little space to call their own. 

I would be so grateful for any support you might be willing to offer. I have nearly 50,000 Followers on Twitter and more on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn. If only 1 in 10 of you lovely people gave just $15 that would make a massive difference. I know times are very tight and we have many priorities - but could you spare a small amount? 

I am going to give myself a Birthday Present of $100 just to get the ball rolling!

I will be posting images and stories from the Liz and the Sanctuary so do please come back to these pages for more news and updates.

Above all: THANK YOU. When you get to be the wrong side of 60, many people don't want to be reminded of their age. But instead of being shy about it, I am shouting about it in the hope that, together, we can make my 62nd a Birthday with a difference - a Birthday to remember!

Best wishes   Willx 

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