THIS week's selection of readers' letters to the Advertiser includes a range of suggestions for New Year resolutions, along with calls for festive season support from several charities.

To have your say on any important local issue, email editorial@helensburghadvertiser.co.uk - happy writing!

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HAVE you made your New Year’s resolution yet? If the answer is no, why not consider taking on a challenge in aid of youth charity Sea Cadets?

We are thrilled to have places available for a whole host of exciting charity challenges. The money you raise could really make a difference, as 93p in every £1 that we receive goes directly to our valuable work with young people. Sea Cadets helps 14,000 10- to 18-year-olds, in 400 communities across the UK, to see the world with confidence, to develop self-belief and skills for life.

Our charity challenges are a team effort between you and us – we offer you support as you prepare and train for your challenge, while you will be helping thousands of young people across the UK through your fundraising. We have sporting challenges available such as the Prudential RideLondon and the Royal Parks Half-Marathon, both designed to push you to the limit. The Snowdon Triple Challenge awaits those who fancy a tough and exciting multi-activity trial, while aspiring sailors may enjoy a day on the Solent with our Maritime Industry Regatta.

If you would like to make a trip abroad, take a look at the Zambezi River Challenge. Not one for the faint-hearted, you will paddle your way along the border with Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe, steadily heading for Victoria Falls where you will raft the most tempestuous rapids in the world.

If you are interested in any of these challenges and would like to help raise vital funds for Sea Cadets, please e-mail events@ms-sc.org.

Martin Coles

CEO, Sea Cadets

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WE ALL have the chance to do something amazing this Christmas to help others. As an ambassador of Sightsavers, the charity that works to prevent and cure blindness in developing countries, I would love your readers to make a real difference to someone’s life.

Sightsavers has pledged to make “A Million Miracles” happen in some of the world’s poorest countries by raising enough money to fund one million sight restoring operations. A cataract operation that takes around 10 minutes and costs Sightsavers just £30, could save someone from a future of blindness.

So with this in mind, I would encourage readers to help Sightsavers perform a Christmas miracle by donating £30, or whatever they can, and give the gift of sight at millionmiracles.org. It would be a truly wonderful Christmas present: the chance to change someone’s life. Thank you so very much.

Warmest good wishes,

Lorraine Kelly

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AS THE new year approaches I am writing to ask if your readers would like to volunteer with Leonard Cheshire. Not only will you be gaining valuable new skills, you will also be supporting disabled people to make the most of their lives.

Whether you can spare a few hours a week or support us occasionally, your assistance is really valued.

You can help in many different ways, starting with driving those we support to essential appointments or to see their family or enjoy leisure activities including sport and entertainment. Your IT skills could be used to support communication on social media channels and if you have artistic or gardening talents they could also prove beneficial.

The most important attribute is the willingness to support others and be a part of something bigger. In return you’ll have fun, meet new people and form lasting friendships.

Why not come and join us as we celebrate our centenary in 2017 commemorating 100 years since Leonard Cheshire’s birth? To find out more about how to become a volunteer with us, visit our website https://www.leonardcheshire.org/get-involved/volunteering-opportunities, or email volunteering@LCDisability.org.

Jan Balzanella

Head of Volunteering, Leonard Cheshire Disability

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I NOTE the UK defence secretary, Michael Fallon, confirmed in the House of Commons that British-made cluster bombs have been used by Saudi Arabian forces in the current Yemen conflict.

Due to their extraordinary risk to civilians, cluster bombs, which release small bomblets over a wider area, were banned in 2010.

I wonder if this is what is meant by so-called ‘British values’?

Alex Orr

via email

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I SEE that the Queen has demonstrated her concern for her subjects by cancelling a Christmas train trip for fear of infecting fellow travellers with her cold germs.

If only more sniffling members of the general public could realise that “coughs and sneezes spread diseases” and do likewise – especially at this time of year.

God bless you, Ma’am!

John Eoin Douglas

via email

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THIS month, PDSA’s two Pet Hospitals in Glasgow will care for around 3,500 pets in need of vital veterinary treatment.

But we can only be there for these much-loved pets thanks to public support. So we’re asking kind-hearted animal lovers to help “keep the lights on for pets” this Christmas by contributing towards the cost of providing our service in the local area for one day, which is £4,800.

Donate at www.pdsa.org.uk/LightsOnGlasgow or by texting GLAS11 and your donation amount to 70070.

Susie Hermit

Senior Vet, Glasgow Shamrock Street PDSA