Compassionate ride
How charitably-minded were you when you were 15?
If I recall correctly, I was obsessed with Morrissey, Madonna, The Cure and Prince and did very little to help other people. Not that I think I was overly self-absorbed, but 15 was a time of my life where I was trying to work out who I was as I indulged in sometimes garish displays of self-determination. Most of my energy was spent trying to get into gay bars to dance all night to Bananarama, New Order and Neneh Cherry. My exploits didn’t leave much time for helping others.
Memories of how tumultuous my teen years were help me to understand what an incredible act of compassion and drive is about to be performed by Gwen Stanbrook.
Gwen has taken it upon her self to cycle her bike through parts of France, Switzerland and Germany in order to raise funds for crucial animal advocate charity, Viva!.
What is Viva!?
Viva! campaigns for a vegan world because most farmed animals spend their short and miserable lives in the filth of factory farms and are killed with sickening barbarity. They expose this abuse by secretly going inside these shameful places and filming the suffering and publicising it with nationwide campaigns that bring about change.
Viva! monitors the latest research from all over the world on the environment and development issues and argues for change with hard science. Viva! organises demonstrations and imaginative local campaigns to ensure the public know what’s happening in their area. Viva! provides all the information and support necessary to help people change their diet because the best way to protect animals is to stop eating them.
Viva! is one of the most important animal action organisations in the UK today and I am grateful that Gwen has taken initiative to raise much-needed funds to support the group.
This is where you enter the equation.
You might not be 15 and you might not want to cycle through parts of Europe, but surely you will want to take this opportunity to help Gwen raise as much money for Viva! as possible.
I believe this is not only an important opportunity for us to direct funds to a worthwhile advocacy group, it is also our chance to show appreciation to a young animal activist. Let’s tell Gwen that we are 100% behind her compassionate actions and are grateful for her selfless campaigning to improve outcomes for animals.
Gwen has reached her target of £200 but I am confident that we can help her double that amount.
We need more young people like Gwen. Let’s support them in their fight for animals.
