You did this

This year some of your money went to Whizz-Kidz, who help some of the estimated 70,000 children in the UK waiting for the right wheelchair.  They not only provide equipment and life skills, but also offer support to young people.  Take a look at this video to find out the kind of way your cash has changed a life:

We’ve just sent off money to Action on Depression, a Scottish charity working with some of the 10% of the population who suffer from this illness at some point in their lives.  Like all of the recipients of your money this year, there is a feeling that we provided no more than a drop in the ocean of what is required, but with depression we felt that bringing the subject out into the open was as important as the money donated.

This illness can do enormous damage lurking in the shadows, let’s kick it into the light.

Many of you will remember the Martin Chamber Ecuador Trust.  Fr Martin left Scotland some years ago to help some of the most deprived people on earth.  In his words, this is why we helped:

“I would say that people should care about the poor people of Ecuador firstly because they are our brothers and sisters.  On top of that their needs are great: they have no running water, no proper sanitation, no sewerage system and poor electricity.  They have little access to education or to medical care and they are crammed together in bamboo huts – mile upon mile of houses, millions of people living below the poverty line.  That’s why people should care.”

You gave to the Ronnie Coyle Benefit Trust, sadly, Ronnie is no longer with us, you donated to the Aberdour PTA, from the Fife village that hosts our summer get-together, and you gave a donation to The Haven, who help people with life limiting illness from Glasgow and Lanarkshire.  Their story is available in a short video here, take a look at what your money is doing.

All in I’d say you did very well.  Very well indeed.  Have a great Christmas, you deserve it.