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LYME DISEASE UK
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**Charity registration number:** 1182212
**Charity address:** Lyme Disease UK, Lytchett House, 13 Freeland Park, Wareham Road, Poole, Dorset, BH16 6FA
**Trustees during this financial year:** Natasha Metcalf (Chair), Julia Knight, Sarah Herbert, James Herbert.
LDUK Trustee Annual Report 2024 - 2025
## **Financial Year 6**
## 26th February 2024 - 25th February 2025
## **Structure, Governance and Management**
Lyme Disease UK is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation governed by a Constitution.
Trustee decisions, including new trustee appointments, are only made following a meeting or electronic correspondence containing a quorum and only if a majority vote is achieved. Along with trustees, Lyme Disease UK’s daily running is operated by a core team of freelancers and volunteers.
## **Objectives and Activities**
The purpose of the charity is, for the public benefit, to prevent Lyme disease and support those living with the disease by:
- **(1)** Raising awareness about the causes and dangers of Lyme disease and ways to prevent tick bites.
- **(2)** Providing and publishing information about Lyme disease and where practical help and support can be found for sufferers.
- **(3)** Making grants to fund research into Lyme disease and the treatment of the disease, provided the useful results of such research are published. This was not feasible in this financial year.
- **(4)** Working with others to support improvements to the diagnosis and treatment of Lyme disease, including to the national guidelines for diagnosis, treatment and care.
- **(5)** Making grants to pay for personal care and other charitable short or long term needs of people with Lyme disease when possible. This was not feasible in this financial year.
## **Public Benefit Statement**
The trustees continue to have regard for the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit. We review our charity’s aims, objectives, and activities regularly and we feel our activities to date demonstrate public benefit as we strive to prevent Lyme disease and provide support for those living with the condition.
## **Main Activities and Achievements**
## **Online Support**
Our Online Community of nearly 15,000 people continued to receive support on Facebook and we answered over 800 email tickets from people looking for information on tick bites and Lyme disease.
LDUK Trustee Annual Report 2024 - 2025
**3**
## **Headline Sponsors for Wake Up to Lyme Campaign 2024**
We were very proud and excited to introduce our Headline Sponsor, Team Seasoar. In December 2024, the team rowed in the World’s Toughest Row – Atlantic, a 3000 mile row from La Gomera in the Canary Islands to Antigua, in the West Indies. Their target was to raise £100,000 for Lyme disease research and awareness and they achieved an impressive £82,781. Tick Twister also came onboard as a generous sponsor of the campaign and we developed a great working relationship with them!
## **Wake Up to Lyme Campaign 2024**
- Reached over 300,000 people online via our social media platforms (80% non-followers of our platforms!).
- Distributed over 60,000 leaflets, 10,000 tick awareness cards, 5,000 posters and not forgetting, 250 car stickers!
- Enjoyed seeing 25 landmarks across the UK light up for Lyme.
- Welcomed over 80,000 visitors to our website.
- Displayed our awareness literature in over 6,000 GP surgeries.
- Had the opportunity to display our **Be Tick Aware animation** on 800 pharmacy screens.
LDUK Trustee Annual Report 2024 - 2025
**4**
We were delighted to work on a number of **TV, radio and press** features this spring including **Countryfile, BBC Morning Live, Sky News** and **The Mirror** . Thank you to all of the patients who came forward to share their stories and help people to understand the realities of late Lyme disease and why prevention is so important.
Following the introduction of the **Pharmacy First Service** earlier in the year, a key aim for our campaign was to reach as many pharmacists as possible to improve awareness of the Lyme rash and early symptoms.
We reached out to a number of organisations including **Community Pharmacy England** , **NHS England** , **National Pharmacy Association** , **The Centre for Pharmacy Postgraduate Education (CPPE)** and were delighted with their enthusiasm to promote our resources to their audiences. They included information on recognising, diagnosing, and treating Lyme disease on their websites, and in newsletters including **Primary Care Bulletin** (sent to 25,000+ NHS primary care professionals).
LDUK Trustee Annual Report 2024 - 2025
**5**
We were keen to share our new **Be Tick Aware animation** , on **over 800 pharmacy screens** throughout the UK thanks to **Healthpoint TV** and **Cegedim Healthcare Solutions** . We were also able to display our awareness posters and leaflets in 6,000 GP surgeries across the UK. So next time you’re in a waiting room, do keep an eye out!
**Light Up For Lyme** returned for another year and it’s been amazing to see some of our grandest ever venues lighting up in green to raise awareness of Lyme disease including **The Blackpool Tower, Edinburgh Castle** and **St Edmundsbury Cathedral** . With a combined effort from **Lyme Resource Centre** and patient advocates, an incredible **25 venues** lighting up in support of Lyme disease sufferers, a new charity record! Thank you so much to all of the landmarks and organisers.
LDUK Trustee Annual Report 2024 - 2025
**6**
## **Collaborating with charities and organisations**
We’ve been thrilled to build new relationships with fellow charities this year who are keen to support our important message! Key collaborations include a collaboration with **Duke of Edinburgh’s Award** , **Kitsquad** and **The School and Public Health Nurses Association (SAPHNA)** .
Thanks also to organisations including **Coombe Abbey Park** , Hartland Wildlife Management and Training, **Countryside Jobs Service** , and **BASC Scotland** for sharing awareness information from our social media platforms.
## **Team Seasoar Wine Tasting Evening and Founder’s Day at St Mary’s Calne**
Lyme Disease UK’s Chair and Co-Founder, Natasha Metcalf, was so honoured to be invited to a weekend of awareness raising and fundraising as Team Seasoar’s John Watling and his wife Azar hosted a wine tasting evening at their home in Wiltshire on 28th June. John and Azar’s daughter Yasmin who suffers from Lyme disease was able to attend as well with her sister Ariana. The evening’s activities included an auction and a bracing ice bath challenge! Thank you so much to Heather and Alan Shepherd who organised the wine tasting and to the Lacock community for attending in droves!
On 29th June 2024, LDUK Chair Natasha Metcalf and John Watling from Team Seasoar gave a speech at St Mary’s Calne school for their Founder’s Day and it was wonderful to return to the school whose students and staff raised over £8,500 for Lyme Disease UK during their Charity Week. It is always really special attending charity events in person and to meet so many wonderful people who are keen to learn more about tick bite prevention and Lyme disease. Thank you to everyone who donated at both events too – your support means the world to all of us at Lyme Disease UK!
LDUK Trustee Annual Report 2024 - 2025
**7**
## **Team Seasoar’s All Aboard Festival**
On 8th September, Lyme Disease UK was invited to have a stand at Team Seasoar’s ‘All Aboard Festival’ in the beautiful village of Lacock. It was a very well attended event with a steady footfall of interested people who came to see Team Seasoar’s rowing boat, Oardrey. There was a great atmosphere and the weather was kinder to us than anticipated, with only a couple of showers. Visitors sipped on delicious coffee from the very hip coffee van belonging to **Roc and Floss** , enjoyed tasty paella from **Radish** and yummy ice creams from **Lacock Dairy** . The rosé stand was a big hit too as well as the tea and cakes in the church. We had lots of visitors to our stand where we were able to hand out lots of leaflets and tick tools and it was amazing how many people knew someone suffering badly with Lyme disease. £5,000 was raised in total and we are so grateful to Team Seasoar for throwing such a fun and informative event. A huge thank you to everyone who donated on the day, making this such a successful event.
LDUK Trustee Annual Report 2024 - 2025
**8**
## **Great North Run**
Huge thanks to our fabulous Great North Run 2024 team for raising a whopping £2,719 for Lyme Disease UK on Sunday 8th September! We are incredibly grateful to everyone that sponsored the team. Thank you also to everyone who travelled to soak up the fantastic atmosphere and cheer everyone on!
## **Pendle Young Farmers Club Sheep Shear**
Pendle Young Farmers Club once again ran their popular annual Charity Speed Shear 2024 at Gisburn Auction Mart on Saturday 31st August. The event was a great success with large numbers flocking to see competitors battle to complete the fastest, cleanest lamb shear.
Having already provided a mountain of support for Lyme Disease UK over the past few years, we are delighted and grateful that the club have again named us as one of three charities to benefit from the proceeds of the event – an amazing £13,309! Dan Duerden, a member of Pendle Young Farmers Club, suffers from Lyme disease likely following a tick bite whilst shearing sheep. Along with the support of family, friends and the local farming community, Dan has raised a phenomenal amount of awareness and funds to support Lyme patients. Dan is also one of our valued patient ambassadors at Lyme Disease UK. Having experienced life changing symptoms, he truly understands only too well the challenges the Lyme community faces.
We are so grateful and inspired by Dan and his family’s tireless efforts to raise awareness and funds for us. Your help has been invaluable – we really can’t thank you enough!
LDUK Trustee Annual Report 2024 - 2025
**9**
## **Team Seasoar’s Departure**
LDUK Chair and Communications Manager Natasha Metcalf and Joanne Lee flew to La Gomera in the Canary Islands on a self-funded trip to wave off Team Seasoar as they set off across the Atlantic in their rowing boat to raise funds for Lyme Disease UK. We are so grateful to John Watling, Niall Brannigan, Jason Wilder and Sam Weber for taking on this epic challenge. The small town of San Sebastian de La Gomera was overrun with people involved in the race.
The streets and marina were full of rowers, their families and friends, race organisers, past entrants and supporters. It was great to meet up with everyone involved; you could really sense the anticipation and excitement in the air.
Due to bad weather the whole fleet raced to prepare to leave a day early. The day before the race we attended a briefing for family and friends outlining the challenges the men will face, as well as reassuring us about the safety measures in place to support them. It was a particularly poignant moment for those of us directly affected by Lyme disease. After years of battling for recognition and support, seeing the LDUK logo glinting in the sunshine seemed a pivotal moment. Four amazing men taking action to help to create change for all of us affected by the illness. Fundraising on the largest scale we have yet seen, raising huge amounts of awareness in the process. We send the team our deepest thanks for their commitment to our joint cause.
Team Seasoar seemed calm and confident as they waved goodbye and rowed their boat ‘Oardrey’ out of the marina towards open sea. We watched until they became a distant speck on the horizon before turning back to cheer on the remaining teams. We’re so proud of and grateful to John, Niall, Sam and Jason and you can see their race start video **here** .
LDUK Trustee Annual Report 2024 - 2025
**10**
## **Team Seasoar’s Arrival**
Natasha and Joanne decided to surprise Team Seasoar in Antigua on a self-funded trip. They completed the race in 52 days, 20 hours and 43 minutes, arriving in English Harbour in Antigua on 2nd February 2025. As the team came in at night it was initially hard to see their boat ‘Oardrey’ approaching from the darkness. Staring out to sea from Fort Berkeley, it was an amazing moment as a faint green light and the shadowy figures of men rowing began to appear cheering from family and friends. It was so emotional for everyone involved as the media boat and drone circled the team and flares lit up the night sky. After racing back down the rocky path into the harbour laughter sang out as family, friends and the race organisers congratulated the team. Natasha caught up with John and Niall a few days later to listen to them **refect on their time at sea** . Their stories really give a sense of the challenges they faced.
We are truly so grateful to Team Seasoar who took on the challenge of a lifetime in support of Lyme Disease UK. The media coverage generated by this fundraiser has raised a lot of awareness of Lyme disease and the struggles that patients face.
These men had a particularly difficult crossing and had to persistently dig deep, battling horrendous conditions to achieve their goal. It was one of the toughest things they have ever done and we do not underestimate the mental and physical toll it took to reach Antigua. Team Seasoar you have done us proud and we will never forget what you have done for our **here** . community. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts! Watch the official race finish video
LDUK Trustee Annual Report 2024 - 2025
**11**
## **Other Events**
Patient ambassador Morven-May MacCallum attended several events in Scotland to help raise Lyme disease awareness. She had stalls at Belladrum, Moy County Fair, Nairn Highland Games and Glenurquhart Highland Games. Morven-May also did some online awareness talks for the charity including for the Royal Air Force and West Air Cadets, NHS Scotland Community Pharmacists and the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health.
## **Further Fundraising**
Jenni Boocock and her mum Becky, who ran the Yorkshireman half marathon on 8th September and raised a fabulous £834 for Lyme Disease UK. Luke Roberts completed his courageous sky dive in support of his loved one, Emily Pell, who’s battling Lyme. A H Warren Trust and Coombe Farm Sporting arranged a Clay Pigeon shooting event. St Mary Calne School ran another terrific fundraiser. In addition to organising three light ups in Milton Keynes, Michaela Smith and family ran an informative, pop up fundraising stall at their local shopping centre. We are so grateful to everyone who raised money for us this year!
LDUK Trustee Annual Report 2024 - 2025
**12**
## **A Look Ahead to 2025-2026**
The charity goes through some rebranding for its annual awareness campaign in 2025, changing from ‘Wake Up to Lyme’ to ‘Be Tick Aware’, in order to keep the campaign content fresh and engaging. Lyme Disease UK launches its regular online support sessions for its community which achieve National Lottery Community Fund funding. The charity is also awarded a £1,000 Movement for Good Award. We assemble a new Great North Run team and there are plenty more fantastic fundraisers.
## **Financial Review**
Lyme Disease UK’s total income during the financial year, as reported in our statement of financial activities, was £61,091 in unrestricted funds. Our total expenditure, including charitable activities and governance was £74,795. The year ended with £19,069 in total funds. An independent examination of charity accounts was carried out and the report is to be submitted with the annual return and trustee report. Our current reserves policy is to keep 20% of unrestricted total funds in reserve to cover the charity’s IT, software, and website expenditure as well as professional and legal and insurance expenditure. The current reserves held amount to £3,813.80.
## **Declarations**
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above. Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees
Natasha Metcalf Chair Lyme Disease UK 23rd November 2025
## LYME DISEASE UK
## FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
## FOR
THE YEAR ENDED 25 FEBRUARY 2025
Charity Registration Number 1182212
**Lyme Disease UK** For the Year Ended 25 February 2025
## **Administrative Details**
LDUK (working name)
## **Trustees**
The following served as trustees of the charity during the year:
Natasha Metcalf (chair) Sarah Herbert James Herbert Julia Knight
|**Charity Number**|1182212|
|---|---|
|**Address**|Lytchett House|
||13 Freeland Park|
||Wareham Road|
||Poole|
||Dorset|
||BH16 6FA|
|**Banker**|The Co-Operative Bank|
||Business Banking|
||PO Box 250|
||Delf House|
||Skelmersdale|
||WN8 6WT|
|**Structure**|Charitable Incorporated Organisation|
||Registrated on 26 February 2019|
Page 1
## **Independent Examiner’s Report**
**Report to the trustees/ members of Charity Name** Lyme Disease UK
**On accounts for the year ended** 25-Feb-25 **Charity number** 1182212 **Set out on pages** 1 to 7
## **Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner**
The charity’s trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity’s trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144(2) pf the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) and that an independent examination is needed.
It is my responsibility to:
· examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Act,
· to follow the procedure laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act, and,
· to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
## **Basis of independent examiner’s report**
My examination was carried out in accordance with the general Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a `true and fair view’ and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.
## **Independent examiner’s statement**
In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention:
1. which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements:
· to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act, and,
· to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the Charities Act
have not been met; or
2. to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Wendy Cheung FCCA
Date: 26th November 2025
Page 2
Lyme Disease UK For the Year Ended 25 February 2025 Statement of Financial Activities
|**Categories by activity**
Notes
**Incoming resources**
**Income:**
Donations
3
Charitable activities
Sponsorship
Gift Aid
**Resources expended**
**Expenditure on:**
Charitable activities
4
Goverance
5
Net gains/(losses) on
investments
Other gains/(losses)
**_Fund Balances_**
Fund Brought forward
**Fund Balance at**
**25.02.2025**
Gains and losses on revaluation of fixed
assets for the charity’s own use
**_Net movement in funds_**
**_Total_**
**_Total_**
**Net income/(expenditure) before**
**investment gains/(losses)**
**Net income/(expenditure)**
**Transfers between funds**
**Other recognised** **gains/(losses):**|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**Restricted**
**income**
**funds**
**£**
**£**
45,900
12,365
-
-
-
2,826
**61,091**
**-**
74,330
-
465
-
-
-
**74,795**
**-**
-
-
-
-
**13,704**
**-**
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
**13,704**
**-**
-
32,308
-
**18,604**
-|**Total funds**
**Prior year**
**funds**
**£**
**£**
45,900
40,355
12,365
631
-
-
2,826
2,622|
|---|---|---|
|||**61,091**
**43,608**
74,330
36,542
465
450
-
-|
|||**74,795**
36,992
-
-
-
-|
|||**13,704**
**-**
6,166
-
-
-
-
-
-|
|||**13,704**
**-**
6,166|
|||32,308
25,692
**18,604**
**32,308**|
Page 3
Lyme Disease UK For the Year Ended 25 February 2025 Balance Sheet
|Notes
**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**Restricted**
**income**
**funds**
**£**
**£**
**Fixed assets**
**Tangible assets**
- -
**_Total fixed assets_**
-
**Current assets**
**Debtors**
9
- -
**Cash at bank and in hand**
11
19,069-
**_Total current assets_**
**19,069**
**Creditors: amounts falling due**
**within one year**
10
465
**_Net current assets/(liabilities)_**
**18,604**-
**_Total assets less current_**
**_liabilities_**
**18,604**-
**Funds of the Charity**
Fund Balances at brought
forward
32,308
**Restricted income funds**
-
**Unrestricted funds**
-13,704
**_Total funds_**
**18,604**-|**Total this**
**year**
**Total last year**
**£**
**£**
-
-
-
-
-
8,055
19,069
24,703|
|---|---|
||**19,069**
32,758
465
450|
||**18,604**
32,308|
||**18,604**
32,308|
||32,308
25,692
-
-
-13,704
6,616|
||**18,604**
32,308|
The charitable company is entitled to exemption from audit under Section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 for the year ended 25 February 2025. No member of the company has deposited a notice requiring an audit of these accounts.
This report was approved by the board of Trustees on :
Signed by :
> Name: Natasha Metcalf
Position: Chair
> Date: 25th November 2025
Page 4
## 1 **Basis of preparation**
## **1.1 Basis of accounting**
These accounts have been prepared under the historical cost convention with items recognised at cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant note(s) to these accounts.
The accounts have been prepared in accordance with:
the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102), and with the Charities Act 2011.
The charity constitutes a public benefit entity as defined by FRS 102.
## **1.2 Going concern**
The Trustees consider that there are no material uncertainties about the charity's ability to continue as a going concern. There are no key judgements that the charity has made which have a significant effect on the accounts. The Trustees do not consider that there are any sources of estimation uncertainty at the reporting date that have a signicant risk of causing a material adjustment to the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities within the next reporting period.
## **1.3 Accounting policies**
Income is recognised when the charity has entitlement to the funds, any performance conditions attached to the income have been met. It is probable that the income will be received and that the amount can be measured reliably.
Expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all cost related to the category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to specific headings, they have been allocated to activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources.
Unrestricted funds can be used in accordance with the charitable objectives at the discretion of the t t Restricted funds can only be used for restricted purposes within the objects of the charity. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor or when funds are raised for particular purposes.
The charity is exempt from corporation tax on its charitable activities.
## **1.4 Critical accounting estimates and judgements**
In the application of the charity's accounting policies, the Trustees are required to make judgements, estimates and assumptions about the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. The estimates and associated assumptions are based on historical experience and other factors that are considered to be relevant. Actual results may differ from these The estimated and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognised in the period in which the estimate is revised where the revision affects only that period, or in the period of the revision and future periods where the revision affects both current and future
## **1.5 Material prior year errors**
No material prior year errors have been identified in the reporting period (3.47 FRS 102 SORP).
Page 5
## **Lyme Disease UK**
For the Year Ended 25 February 2025
## **3 Analysis of income**
|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**Restricted**
**income**
**funds**
Donations and gifts
45,900
-
Gift Aid
2,825
-
Legacies
- -
General grants provided by government/other
charities
-
Sponsorships
- -
Donated goods, facilities and services
-
**Total** 48,725
**Charitable**
**activities:**
12,366
**Total** 12,366
-
61,091
-
Total Income
**Analysis**
**Donations**
**and legacies:**|**Total funds**
**Prior year**
**£**
**£**
45,900 40,355
2,825 2,622
- -
- -
- -
- -|
|---|---|
||48,725**42,977**|
||12,366 631|
||12,366 631|
|||
|||
||61,091 43,608|
## **4 Analysis of expenditure**
|Conference and Events
Professional and Consultancy
Insurance
IT , software and website
Legal Expenses
Subscriptions
Telephone & Internet
Postage and courier
Printing and stationery
Travel
Total expenditure
**Expenditure on raising funds:**
Accommodation
Advertising, marketing, direct mail and publicity
General expenses
Bank charges and transaction fees
**Analysis**|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**Restricted**
**income**
**funds**
**Total funds**
**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**Restricted**
**income**
**funds**
**Total**
**funds**
**£**
**£**
- - - - - -
16,709
- 16,709 7,825 - 7,825
1,620
- 1,620
- - -
44,800
- 44,800 22,522 - 22,522
1,924
- 1,924 457 - 457
188
- 188 179 - 179
2,290
- 2,290 890 - 890
- - - 750 - 750
706
- 706 672 - 672
769
- 769 797 - 797
4,732
- 4,732 2,529 - 2,529
494
- 494 339 - 339
25
- 25 20 - 20
73
- 73 12 - 12
- - - - - -
**This year**
**Last year**|
|---|---|
||74,330
**-**74,330 36,992 - 36,992|
## **5. Governance cost**
Independent examiner’s fees
Total governance cost
|**This year **|**Last year**|
|---|---|
|**£**|**£**|
|465|450|
|465|450|
Page 6
**Lyme Disease UK** For the Year Ended 25 February 2025
## **6. Staff Costs**
There were no employees during the year or in the prior year.
## **7. Trustee**
There were no trustees' remuneration or other benefits during the year or in the prior year.
## **8. Tangible fixed assets**
There were no fixed assets during the year or in the prior year.
## **9 Debtors and prepayments**
## **Analysis of debtors**
|**Analysis of debtors**
Debtors
Prepayments and accrued income
**Total**|**This year**
**Last year**
**£**
**£**
0
8,055
-
-|
|---|---|
||0
8,055|
## **10 Creditors and accruals**
## **Analysis of creditors**
|**Analysis of creditors**||
|---|---|
|Accruals
Trade creditors
Accruals and deferred income
Other creditors
**Total**
Other
Cash at bank and on hand
**Total**
Short term cash investments (less than 3 months maturity date)
Short term deposits
**11 Cash at bank and in hand**|**This year**
**Last year**
**£**
**£**
465 450
- -
- -
- -
**Amounts falling due after**|
||465 450|
||**This year**
**Last year**
**£**
**£**
- -
- -
19,069 24,703
- -|
||19,069 24,703|
Page 7