"How much more can the world take?
This is the question I've been asking myself recently, and I'm sure I'm not the only one.
How many more mass shootings, how many more bombings, how many more attacks are we going to have to suffer before we can't suffer anymore?
What will be the last straw? How can we defend ourselves when there's nothing left to defend? And how can we fight back if we don't want to fight in the first place?
If more and more people are hell-bent on killing each other, when will it end? And
how will it end?
How much more can the world take?
Honestly, I'm not sure anymore.
But I don't think we've got long before we find out."
These are the words of Scarlett Steele, the main character in my Young Adult novel,
The Downfall. In the book, she runs a blog - 'Truth Not Terror' - and sells wristbands to raise money for charity. I thought it might be nice to do this in real life, so I've created the Truth Not Terror Campaign, selling purple wristbands with the phrases 'Truth Not Terror' and 'Peace Will Prevail' on each side.
In the novel I wanted to address some of the issues we unfortunately find ourselves dealing with these days - school shootings, terrorist attacks, suicide bombings, domestic abuse - but I also wanted to find a more practical way of helping the people affected by these terrible incidents, so £1 of every wristband I sell will go to the following charities. I am fundraising on behalf of:
British Red Cross - Europe Refugee Crisis Appeal
"Desperate families have no choice but to risk their lives to flee war and persecution. They urgently need your help. Red Cross volunteers across Europe are working around the clock to support hundreds of thousands of refugees as they attempt to reach safety."
Refuge - Domestic Abuse Charity
"Domestic violence is a crime. No woman should have to live in fear of her partner. If you think you may be experiencing domestic violence, you are not alone. Visit refuge.org.uk or www.1in4women.com for support."
OneFamily - Helping Israel's Victims Of Terror And War
"OneFamily is the family of Israel's victims of terror attacks - those who have been bereaved, those who have been maimed, and those suffering from post-trauma as a result of terrorist attacks since 2001."
Refugee Action - 'We survived. Help us live'
"At Refugee Action, we help refugees who've survived some of the world's worst regimes. We get them the basic support they need to live again with dignity. Then we help them build safe, happy and productive lives in the UK."
I want to raise as much money as possible, so whether you've enjoyed the book and want to show your support, or simply wish to help the chosen charities, I would be very grateful if you could buy a wristband using the button above. I am also encouraging those who wish to participate to take a photo of them wearing their wristband, so I can create a collage of people who support Truth Not Terror. These photographs will go on the blog and on the
Facebook and
Twitter pages if you'd like to send one in.
If anyone has any other charities they'd like me to consider, please email me the name or the website link to
truthnotterror@gmail.com. We're interested in charities all over the world, no matter how small.
Thank you!
