Dear all,
May I wish you all a very Happy Christmas and an enjoyable New Year.
If you had said to me at the beginning of the year that on 24th February 2022 a war in Europe would start, I would not have believed you. It has been a dreadful year in so many ways - the situation in Ukraine, the rising cost of living and the death of our beloved Queen.
I know that 2023 has every chance to improve upon 2022 markedly. The pandemic has subsided - we seem to have a grip on inflation, which is already showing signs of falling. We all pray the conflict in Ukraine will end and with it, greater peace is in store.
My Christmas table is set for two extra places this year. Anna and Sviatik, the mother and little boy from Ukraine that my family has looked after since the 3rd April, have settled into life in North Norfolk. They feel so welcomed by the warmth of everyone in our area. I can’t thank you enough.
The ability to take aid into Ukraine in November and watch little Sviatik reunite with his father after eight months will forever be one of the most moving and emotional moments of my life. Those of us that took aid to use on the front line will forever be left with what we saw. It has emboldened us to do more to help Ukrainians as they now suffer blackouts from their energy plants being bombed.
With Putin now trying to freeze innocent Ukrainians and destroy their morale, I intend to return to Ukraine in the new year with generators to help those that have had their electricity disrupted.
In February, the average temperature can drop to as low as -8 celsius therefore I would like to aim to take 100 generators to those suffering.
If you would like to help us in taking generators to Ukraine, you can donate here:
https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/duncan-baker-nnpower4ukraine
For further information, including if you want to buy us a generator for us to take for you, the details can be found here - including where to buy one:
https://www.duncanbaker.org.uk/campaigns/north-norfolk-power-4-ukraine?fbclid=IwAR18XrSwBfjKBo1C1pb19cZPx_Mkglk8BOwh5S8c6JjiSmFLzbYlHqcQlIc
May I thank all of you who helped me throughout my London Marathon 2022 bid. This year I set out to raise £30,000 for local charities across North Norfolk but crossed the line, raising £49,198 for 26 amazing causes. Never in my wildest dreams did I expect to take up marathon running when I became your MP and raise £87,395 for so many local causes that do so much. It has been a privilege to use this platform to do some good for our home.
I look forward to carrying on helping the amazing communities I am so privileged to represent next year. I’m proud of so many local wins we’ve achieved this year from delivering mental health services at Cromer Hospital, to reimbursing expenses for our first responders. Whether it's saving the bank hub in Holt or volunteering in local care homes to delivering new apprenticeships through my North Norfolk 100 Apprenticeship scheme – I’m raring to go again next year.
I wish you all a truly Happy Christmas with your loved ones,
Yours sincerely,
Duncan
Duncan Baker MP
