Dear Red Batster

In November, I will be taking part in an 11 day trek through the Andes in order to raise funds for Action on Disability and Development (ADD), a Somerset based charity which Dinah and I have supported for several years.

As well as giving me an opportunity to see one of the most remote and beautiful parts of the world, and set myself a tough physical challenge, I am glad to have the opportunity to raise money for ADD.

ADD works with groups run by disabled people in twelve countries of Asia and Africa – some of the very poorest people in the world. There is a close link between disability and poverty in these countries: poor people are more likely to be disabled, and disabled people are more likely to be poor.

All ADD’s workers overseas are nationals of the country where they work, and many are disabled themselves. They help other disabled people’s groups by:

• building up their confidence that may have been destroyed by years of discrimination
• helping them claim a place in society (ie persuading local schools to accept disabled children)
• providing business training
• accessing small business start-up loans
• providing mobility aids – disabled people themselves train as technicians to make artificial limbs, crutches etc.
• campaigning for equal rights

ADD’s work is about helping some of the world’s poorest people help themselves in societies where the state offers little or no assistance. The challenges they overcome help Dinah and I put into perspective some of the difficulties we encounter through her disability

ADD are arranging this trek on condition that I can attract at least £2000 sponsorship. £850 covers the cost of the trek, and all other proceeds go to help ADD’s work, I hope to raise a lot more than that, and I’m making a personal contribution of £100. I’m writing to ask you if you would make a donation to help me reach my target.

Please make cheques payable to ADD, and send them to me at 67 Station Road, Backwell, Bristol BS48 3LN. ADD hope to raise £150,000 in total through this campaign, so please give as generously as you can.

Thanks

Dave

Reply Slip:
Dear Dave,
I am delighted to support your fantastic effort for this wonderful cause. Here’s a large cheque / You Fat Bastard, you’ll never do it. I’m not giving you a penny / You Fat Bastard, you need to lose some weight, so here’s a cheque / I’m happy to give you some money just to get you out of the country for a while / I’ve already given you some money in that boozer in Cornwall, stop hassling me/

I’ll give you some money some time, but I don’t have my cheque book just now, but I will soon, when I remember, definitely. Can I give you some loose change at 3 in the morning on the August Bank Holiday tour? Oh, that’s too late is it? OK, soon. Definitely.

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