This picture is me, Joanna Ripley and my amazing dad, Allan Ripley, who would have been 84 years old on May 7th 2017. Sadly we had to say goodbye to him on December 20th, 2013.

My father was a very kind and humble northerner, first a Cobbler, then as an aid worker with the Baptist Church Missionaries providing help to Angolan refugees in the Congo. On his return to Skipton in the 1960's he married my mother, Daphne and became a much loved Postman in the Yorkshire Dales for more than 30 years. An avid supporter of many charities he had a real soft spot for the Big Issue magazine who provide a way for the homeless to make a living and start to rebuild their lives with dignity.

The Allan Ripley Foundation will be a Yorkshire based not for profit social enterprise whose purpose is to support employment for excluded groups and others facing challenges in their return to work.

The donation for 2017 will be £5,000 to the Big Issue to provide a passport, work clothes and a job starter kit to 20 individuals.

Many thanks for your support,

Joanna

PS. Some of you will remember that my father was often the recipient of 'Sports Personality of the Year' awards, rather than for his sporting achievements! He was a bit of a comedian and a fantastic storyteller.

This year on May 7th (would have been Dad's birthday) it is 'World Laughter Day' and I have hosted some clips of my infamous cackle/laughter at www.theallanripleyfoundation.org for anyone to purchase to help reach the 5k target. The ringtones are only 99p. Bargain! LOL.

I only need about 8,000 people around the world to purchase my laughter and we have reached the target! Please let all your family, friends and colleagues know!

Thank you. :-)