Labour MP for Reading West, Martin Salter, will be launching the ABC to Read sponsored walk of Pangbourne Meadows on Sunday 28^th March 2010. The walk from Pangbourne to Caversham will raise much needed funds to allow the charity to continue recruiting school based mentors to help develop the reading and writing skills of primary school children across Berkshire.

Mr Salter was one of the founders of the charity, ABC to Read, which currently works with children at over fifty schools across the region. Its 100+ volunteers give up their time to work with three children each twice a week on a one-to-one basis. With a supply of books, games and puzzles the team have a marked impact on the reading abilities and confidence of children, all of whom have been identified by their teachers as being in need of a little individual support. To keep up the good work the charity needs more funds. In the past ABC to read has relied on grants and donations but lately this money has been harder to find.

Mr Salter said:-

“ABC to Read is a great charity which I was proud to help get up and running around six years ago. I was pleased to be invited to what will be an enjoyable walk through some of the beautiful Berkshire countryside, to help raise money to support programmes which have played a significant part in improving levels of literacy in our area”.

Tessa Dove, Chief Officer of ABC to Read, added:-

“We are delighted Martin can join us for our first fundraising event of this kind and extremely grateful for all the support he has given us over the last six years, both to get the charity set up and for his continued interest since”.