We all remember the disturbing reports on the news of the orphans left abandoned in cots in Romania when it opened to the West almost 20 years ago.  Sadly this situation still continues with about 9000* babies abandoned every year, often in horrific conditions. 

I am raising money for FRODO a charity that works with orphans who have a disability or medical problem.  Our specific goal is to raise money to set up a Family Support Team, working in a maternity hospital with direct access to the mothers who might abandon their babies.  The team members – a trained social worker and nurses - will work with the mothers and offer them whatever support they need so they will bond with their babies, take them home and keep them.  This is a tried and tested programme which has been successfully running in Oradea, Romania, for the past year.

To help raise the money needed for this very worthwhile project I have naively undertaken the challenge of cycling from Lands End to John O’Groats.  This means I’ll be pedaling 950 miles in 11 days.  Having not been on a bike since I crashed my Grifter in 1977 I have had to put in many (well ok a few!) hours of hard training.  This alone will not get me through the challenge, what I really need is your donation. 

I visited Romania recently to see and hear of the problems and what is being done to help.  Once the programme is established I plan to go back to visit FRODO’s dedicated team who I know will make it a great success.

Donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to sponsor me: Foundation for the Relief of Disabled Orphans will receive your money faster and, if you are a UK taxpayer, an extra 28% in tax will be added to your gift at no cost to you.

Many thanks for your support.

*4,000 babies are abandoned at birth every year in maternity wards and some 5,000 children are abandoned annually in hospitals and paediatric recovery wards.  UNICEF Romania Annual Report 2005, pp 11-13