i Editor's Letter: A prize worth bidding for

Golf, as regular readers may know, is to me that "good walk spoiled" to which the astute Mark Twain referred. Many, including i's Simon Kelner, would disagree. But, you don't have to be a golfer to appreciate that a round at the famous Wentworth course is a bit special.

Throw in the chance to share it with Chris Blackhurst, editor of The Independent, and discuss anything from Leveson to Libor, secret courts to the secrets of Fulham FC's success, and I'm sure you will agree it is a prize worth bidding for in the auction on behalf of our Christmas Appeal in association with Unicef in the cause of tackling the problem of child soldiers in Central African Republic.

Sometimes, such appeals can seem a little remote from our daily struggle in recession-hit, wintry Britain. But then, so much of what we know you value reading in i every day is the foreign coverage for which our mothership, The Independent, is renowned. You need not be a parent to find the plight of children pressed into soldiering heart-breaking. Just £15 will cover daily food, education and counselling for a former child soldier. I will cede this space on Monday to Evgeny Lebedev, i's proprietor, who will report first-hand on his recent visit to Africa.

If that is not enough to convince you to give, or you just really hate golf, what about the other lots? Shopping with Twiggy; a signed Manchester United shirt; a journey with Simon Calder; a day out at Lord's with Angus Fraser; a concert at the O2; a day at the paper, and many more. Still not persuaded? Then, what about lunch with me at the famous Ivy restaurant and a chance to say what you really think of i? You know you want to…