Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

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.

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.

It has also made a giant difference in my life bringing into my life an amazing young Iranian tailor, who has lived experience of immigration detention, and now we are embarked together on his business beginnings with a new company - The Saffron Stitch.  Without Refugee Tales and the Gatwick Detainee Welfare Group (GDWG) from which it grew there would be no Saffron Stitch.

For 25 years GDWG visitors have 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 and responsible walking.

To celebrate 25 years of GDWG being a lifeline to those in detention I am going to (continue) a 'lock-down' daily 5-mile dog triathlon for 25 days in July.  I cycle 5 miles and Tala, our dog, runs alongside, then off the lead, then swims in the river before reversing our ride. If I could, I would be walking with Refugee Tales for 5 days at the beginning of July but as this isn't possible during Covid-19 I am doing the cycling instead.

Additionally, we have spotted the opportunity to make and sell cloth face-coverings (masks) as part of a responsible response to the COVID-19 pandemic.  We are donating 75p from each mask sale to GDWG/Refugee Tales.  My additional plan is to Pick, Pack and Post at least 333 masks meaning £250 will be raised for the charity.  I am hoping my friends will help me raise at least a further £500 for my efforts cycling and PickPackPosting!

The work of the charity is ever more needed 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 or buy masks!