I love New Year – there is something quite satisfying about the calendar flipping over and starting afresh. A feeling that you have a new chance to get things right. This year I have not made any resolutions instead I have realised that it is time to really start living this new life that I am carving out for myself.

Towards the end of last year I said I wanted to raise some money for the children of Santa Catalina in Anatuya, Argentina towards a holiday for them. Well, Haciendo Camino is arranging a holiday for 28 kids following my discussion which is absolutely fantastic but now they need help raising the funds. So now it’s time to put my money where my mouth is and start raising some cash. But where to start?

It’s hard enough to raise cash for local causes, never mind getting other people interested in deserving children in a country a long way away, so I need to be slightly innovative and put a lot of personal commitment into this.

A friend of mine, A, suggested on New Year’s Eve that I could be sponsored to jump out of a plane. I was horrified at her suggestion as I am very bad with heights. The thought of flinging myself out of a plane several thousand feet in the air, strapped to a complete stranger brought me out in a cold sweat. But that’s the point – it needs to be a challenge and perhaps, in raising funds I can face some things I have always thought were too hard to achieve.

So project number one – jump out of a plane.

I have discovered I can do this relatively cheaply close to Auckland. I seem to fit within their safety parameters so all I need is a fine day, some people willing to sponsor me and I will get cracking.

However, that may not be enough so I will need to generate some more ideas for example –

• Arrange a speed dating night
• Hire myself out as a Girl Friday to do jobs other people hate (cleaning ovens etc.)
• Host a BBQ with our home grown produce and own beef for a donation (sshh don’t tell the cows)
• Get covered with beasties/creepy crawlies for money (thank god there are no snakes in this country as that one BIG phobia I have)

I would love to hear any other ideas, however wacky, to raise funds – so if you have any ideas, or want to contribute to this very worthy cause, send me a comment – I would love to hear from you! I will write about how I am getting on.

So in the meantime, Happy New Year and I hope you have all got some great things planned. If not, why not draw up a wish list of things you want to do and get cracking on making them happen.