What is it about a weekend without a Sunderland game that makes life seem good? Answers on postcards please. It’s made Colin Randall feel so good that he is taking leave of his senses and working himself into an implausibly optimistic frenzy about Arsenal away a week from now. He’s taken a pill and should be better soon …

Some great answers arrived today from the Arsenal fan who is previewing next week’s game at the Emirates for Salut! Sunderland.

“On paper an easy game – but not one to be underestimated,” is how he puts it. Come back a few days from now to see what else he has to say about us and them, but that seemed a remarkably kind – or diplomatic – summary of the how the match is likely to turn out.
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Follow Salut! Sunderland‘s example and give some help to a great cause …

The lads from the superb Sunderland fanzine A Love Supreme deserve our support as they prepare to climb Mount Kilmanjaro this summer.

The trek is in aid of the Coco children’s charity chaired by Steve Cram, the athletics gold medallist turned commentator (also a lifelong SAFC fan and president of the supporters’ association’s London branch)

Martyn McFadden, ALS’s editor, and his pals need £2,800 to finance the project and the total raised so far – at time of writing – is in need of a boost.

Here’s news of one that should help raise the necessary money: a chance for readers in striking distance of Sunderland, to help turn Martyn’s hopes into reality and, at the same time, enjoy dinner in the company of Steve, plus former SAFC stars Kevin Ball and Gary Bennett.

Tony Jeffries, Sunderland’s boxing Olympic Medallist, is also among the guests at an event to be compered – note the spelling, ALS; compared means something else! – by Jeff Brown, from the BBC.

It’s at the seafront Roker Hotel on Friday March 19, the night before we play Birmingham City at home, and costs £30 a head. Sounds a good night, and in aid of a good cause, and the price includes champagne on arrival and a three course dinner.

Salut! Sunderland devotes a little of its meagre income each year to a charity project with some Sunderland AFC connection; the rest buys the odd Premier pint or non-league pie for Pete Sixsmith, or keeps the odd wolf from my door. So we’ve chipped in £50 to Martyn’s appeal, which can be viewed at http://www.justgiving.com/Martyn-McFadden.

Colin Randall