Villagers uniting to help orphans abroad

Villagers from Cheslyn Hay and Great Wyrley are set to help children affected by Aids in South Africa.

School, church and community groups are uniting to fund hands-on work by volunteers in the country.

In July next year, a group of volunteers including businessmen, mothers and churchgoers is set to visit South Africa to help two charities providing life-saving support for orphaned and vulnerable children. The visit to the White River region, Mpmumalanga, will be the culmination of community-wide fundraising collaboration uniting the two villages, known as the Link4Life project.

This includes eight pupils from both Great Wyrley High School and Cheslyn Hay Sport and Community High School, as well as two teachers from each school. Eleven people from Great Wyrley and Cheslyn Hay are also going, plus two youth workers.

Charities being helped are Hands@work, a Christian charity working to help those orphaned or affected by HIV and Aids, and Mercy Air, another Christian charity which uses aircraft to reach people in need. Mercy Air is often involved in medical evacuations and aid relief flights.

Those who take part in the trip will shadow charity workers as well as providing practical help such as working on building or gardening projects and packaging food, clothing and medication. A series of fundraising events and initiatives is planned to help fund the volunteers' visit, kicking off with a musical evening on October 3 at Great Wyrley Community Centre, in Landywood Lane. Tickets are £5.

The visit is being led by Rev Richard Westwood, from St Andrew's Church in Great Wyrley, and his wife Rose, who have already visited the region twice and wanted to spread the word about the charities and offer them more help.

To reserve tickets for the musical evening contact Rob Bridgman on 07838 368 938.