Dear people of Chichester

Churches, businesses and citizens have all contributed.

The money is for Children on the Edge – a Chichester charity with its head office over the Swallow Bakery in North Street.

The project they run, and for which I am raising money, is at Umpiem in Thailand.

Umpiem is a refugee camp (about the population of Chichester) and Children on the Edge is looking after 100 orphan children who live there.

They provide a boarding house for them, feed them and give them schooling.

We have already raised over £14,000.

Now I’m appealing for one last push and offering one last chance to contribute before a new mayor chooses a new charity.

With luck we should reach the target of £15,000 but I shall be very happy if we get a bit more.

£15,000 is equivalent to only £2.88 per week per child for the next 12 months – and even if they live rent free and grow their own food that’s barely enough.

Please help – all donations are welcome, whether small or large, whether from ordinary people, from businesses or churches, or schools (a dress-down Friday perhaps?).

You can give on-line (www.justgiving.com/themayor) and cheques and cash can be handed in at, or sent to the Council House (the Assembly Rooms) in North Street PO19 1LQ.

I shall announce the final total when I hand over to my successor on May 18.

Thank you for reading.

I really hope I reach my target – but more than that I’d like to offer some real help to those poor orphan children.

Very best wishes to you all,

Michael Woolley

Mayor of Chichester