I'm going to walk 30km on 13th November for my lockdown 30th Birthday and I'd like to raise money for the two charities below. If you were considering buying me a pint on my Birthday, please consider donating that money instead if you are able to!!

Lockdown has had a serious impact on people's mental health and unfortunately our mental health services do not receive enough funding to be able to help everyone. I'd like to raise money for Suicide Prevention Bristol, who provide help to people in a crisis through their Crisis Intervention Team and via telephone and social media. SPB is run solely by volunteers, who spend their days and evenings helping vulnerable people and providing assistance until the emergency services arrive. For example, halfway through one evening shift they had already helped support 2 people at imminent risk of suicide and answered 34 calls to their ASSISTline, volunteering a total of 64 combined hours, they rely solely on donations and are a vital helpline for vulnerable people in Bristol.

Lockdown has also had a huge impact on wildlife charities, such as the Cornish Seal Sanctuary. This Sanctuary rescue and rehabilitate >75 seal pups a year, with each one on average costing £2000 to rehabilitate. The Sanctuary relies on public donations and visitors to fund this rescue and rehabilitation work and due to the Covid restrictions, they've really struggled this year. I was lucky enough to undertake work experience at the Sanctuary and the work they do really is important for the seals along our coastline, from educating members of the public, rescuing and rehabilitating seal pups, to providing a safe home for seals which cannot be released - especially when humans are responsible for some of the rescues (fishing gear, disturbance from dogs/members of the public).