Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

I am jumping out of a perfectly servicable aircraft on Wednesday May 13th to raise money for Age Concern Eastbourne! 

I have been volunteering for the charity for just under a year and it has been a fantastic, enlightening, eye opening experience for me. There are so many lonely old people out there with fantastic stories to tell and so much knowledge to impart and it has been my pleasure to get to know some of them throughout the last 12 months through the Age Concern Eastbourne befriending service and the day club. 

Let me tell you about Ken and his beautiful cat Pumpkin, who gives him a reason to get out bed each day...and his endless battles to hide the pet medicine in butter each night to get her to eat it!

Let me tell you about Stan and Gladys, a couple who have had a wonderful life together surrounded by family but a move to Eastbourne resulted in Gladys having a terrible fall and Stan requiring some company whilst she gets better. We have 'battles' every week I visit (be it chess, cards or Ludo) and Gladys loves a clotted cream tea!

Let me tell you about Jack - a Second World War veteran who was a POW in Singapore and suffered terribly at the hands of the Japanese. He channelled all that pain into artistic pursuits when he retired and is a painter, writer and musician. An amazing man, he has taught me that you are never too old to teach yourself new things. 

Let me tell you about the day club clients who visit every week, for most of them their only chance to come out and socialise and have some fun away from their homes. We play games, exercise the body and mind and I love bringing them my home baking to sample. Barbara and Sheila who discovered each other through the day club and have become firm friends. John, who is deaf as a post and laughs at everything. Brian and his incredible knowledge. Eileen who wants me to take her Paris. Marie with her incredible artistic streak and generosity. And the wonderful volunteers that help to make the club so much fun and have turned it into a little community - Judy, Martina, Muriel, Rosemary...and of course Julie who runs the club and has the biggest heart of perhaps anybody I know. 

Age Concern Eastbourne is a lifeline for the elderly and I only see a small amount of the incredible work they do. Help me to support this amazing charity and to provide something special for those in the twilight of their lives.