Happy Anniversary UNICEF

December 11 1946 the children's charity, UNICEF was established

"Children are the world's most valuable resource and its best hope for the future"
John Fitzgerald Kennedy (1917-1963), US President

Bridging Frontiers

Helen and Jenny were in the Bookshop on Saturday - it was lovely to see them. They braved the wind and lashing rain to visit and have a good old blether. I want to tell you about these two very positive friends of mine

Both work in the Day Surgery Unit at Ayr Hospital - they work long hours at their day job, but even longer at their passion - helping victims of the earthquake which hit North West Pakistan last October killing 80,000 and leaving millions homeless

Helen and her husband Tahir worked and raised their family in Peshawar the capital of the North West Frontier Province, where Tahir originated. Tahir is a retired Professor of surgery and a fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons Glasgow and Edinburgh and Helen is an experienced nurse.

When Helen heard of the earthquake devastating a part of the world she knew so well, she had to help. She contacted the Pakistan government and went out to Peshawar to see for herself just what help she could give. When she came home to Cumnock, she was determined to set up a burns unit for victims of the earthquake.

Since last October, Helen, Tahir and Jenny have worked tirelessly to find equipment and raise money to make the burns unit a reality.

Helen and Tahir set up Bridging Frontiers, a registered charity - Ayrshire and Arran Health Trust and the fifteen Scottish health boards were contacted and generously donated obsolete equipment. Helen and Jenny have been car-booting, giving talks and hosting meals to raise money.

Last week Merck donated a 40 foot container and helped pack it with the beds, operating tables, equipment and medical supplies needed for the burns unit. £350,000 of medical equipment was crammed into the container which Merck kindly paid to be shipped to Pakistan and the burns unit opens this month at the Lady Reading Hospital in Peshawar

Now that's what I call being positive! Well done Bridging Frontiers!

Of course, this is an ongoing project - the Pakistani government have agreed to pay for staff for the unit, but Bridging Frontiers will continue to maintain equipment and supplies. Support is still needed, especially in the shape of groups sponsoring a piece of equipment. Please contact Helen or Jenny if you can help or want to get involved in any way - click here for details

One year on and nearly two million people are facing another Himalayan winter with no proper shelter