On 5 May I turned 60. I did NOT spend it the way I had expected or had planned, but I certainly spent it in a very enjoyable manner surrounded by family, dogs, good wine and fun. I'm very lucky.
I have decided to turn yesterday's occasion into a small plea, particularly as I had time to appreciate my good fortune, having made a full recovery from Covid 19 and having been able to enjoy such a wonderful day.
I have been a member, now board member of St George's Society of New York for many years. It's a small and very effective charity, with a strong British connection, as you might imagine. A recipient of our support is a program very close to my heart providing assistance to British families whilst in New York receiving life-saving, experimental cancer care at Memorial Sloan Kettering Hospital.
I know many of the families personally as I usually meet them at JFK and chauffeur them into Manhattan. I can tell you that a braver, more upbeat and positive group of people you could never meet.
Here's a link: https://www.stgeorgessociety.org/family-support
It says it all and if you could "buy me a birthday drink" in the form of a donation, I'd be forever grateful.
OVER 250 YEARS OF GIVING
Since our founding in 1770, St. George's Society of New York has dedicated itself to improving the lives of people in need, assisting thousands of individuals of British and Commonwealth descent in the New York area. Our charitable programs have a major impact on the local community by protecting the elderly at risk of homelessness, helping low-income students to attain a college degree and providing a support network for families affected by pediatric cancer. Whilst our assistance has taken many forms over the years, our fundamental purpose remains constant: we are people helping people.