So many people and organisations have been involved in making 52 Lives what it is today, and in bringing this book to life.
+ First and foremost, the incredible 52 Lives supporters who help change lives every single week, and never seem to tire of me asking for help! Without you, 52 Lives simply wouldn’t exist.
+ Our corporate sponsor, GalaBingo.com. The team at Gala raises funds for 52 Lives each week. Thanks to their support 100 per cent of what people give goes directly to the people we help. Gala’s support keeps the charity running and enables us to do what we do. Thank you so much.
+ The lovely team at Clarins for having such faith in me. The prize money I received from the Clarins Woman of the Year Award allowed us to launch the School Kindness Project, reaching the hearts and minds of tens of thousands of children.
+ My literary agent, Jen Christie from Graham Maw Christie, who has been an incredible source of ideas, inspiration and advice. Jen, without you I’m not sure this book would exist.
+ Dr David Hamilton, for his wisdom, his science and his patience with my many, many questions.
+ Carolyn Thorne and the team at HarperCollins for their amazing enthusiasm, for embracing kindness and for turning my words into such a beautiful book.
+ Lucy Sykes-Thompson for her superb design and Debbie Powell for her beautiful illustrations.
+ My trustees. Piers, Barry and Richard, for their guidance, huge ambition and faith in my vision (or lack thereof at times!) for 52 Lives.
+ My lovely friend and colleague, Lou, who organises pretty much everything. Your colour-coded spreadsheets are a thing of beauty and I don’t know what I’d do without you.
+ Dan from Einstein Tax, Cath from Candid Communications and Adele from Magrath, for donating their time and advice to 52 Lives.
+ Orchard Wealth Management and Crick Auto Group for partnering with us to help change people’s lives every month.
+ Piers, the mindset guru, for helping me understand how human beings work.
+ My mum and dad, for bringing out the kindness in all four of us by giving us nothing but love. It would have been impossible to be brought up by you and NOT be kind. And to John, Julie and Jenni for always being happy for my happiness, and for supporting my idea for 52 Lives from day one, even when it sounded a bit weird.
+ My beautiful children. Abbey, Max and Joseph – you have so much kindness inside you (even though I know you forget sometimes!) and I love you more than anything. I promise to turn my computer off and play more now.
+ And finally to Greig, my love and my best friend who inspired so many parts of this book. You exude the kind of love, kindness and warmth that instantly lifts everyone around you. It comes so naturally to you that you seem to have no awareness of just how big an impact you have on every person you meet. Every single day we’re together you help me feel loved, capable, beautiful and kind – even on the days that I’m none of those things.