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Help us to change the lives of orphaned African children
6:53am Monday 31st March 2008
A CHARITY is on a quest to brighten up the lives of African orphans.
The Basildon Healing Mission is a Christian-led charity set up to raise cash to help underprivileged children.
The charity, led by Bishop Marilyn Atherton, 57, and her husband, Bishop Tony Atherton, 43, both of Manning Grove, Laindon, has been supporting church missionary projects in Africa for several years.
The group, which has about ten members from across the Basildon district, have focused on working in parts of Kenya, a country which now has more than 1.7 million orphans due to the Aids pandemic.
The charity's latest project is to transport 500 teddy bears out to children there who have lost their parents to Aids, or are suffering from the disease themselves. Mrs Atherton, who has spent time working in orphanages and schools in Kenya, said: "People over there have no idea how poor these villagers are. They have absolutely nothing.
"If we could just get the teddies out to Kenya to distribute to the children then at least it's something.
"It may not seem like a lot to us but to them it's the world."
The charity is appealing for a generous resident or business to help them transport the teddies.
It will cost about £1,000 to ship the whole lot out.
Anyone wanting to help the charity in tjhis way, or to support its other projects, should Bishop Marilyn on 07956 587583.
For more details about the charity log on to www.bhmission.btinternet.co.uk
Your Say YourEcho
Sherry, At work :( says...
11:43am Tue 1 Apr 08
Dennis Barry wrote:These children are orphans for God's sake, it's not their fault they have nothing. Not only that, most of them have been infected with the Aids virus and are dying. These teddies will bring them some kind of comfort in the harrowing months that they have left to live, so i would say well done, and good luck to Marylin and Tony.
What a waste of time and effort. Teddies, wow - what a great cure for Aids. Why keep interfering, thats there way of life out there. There are far more deserving charities in England that need support. Dont forget your own.
Pharty Politics, says...
1:48pm Tue 1 Apr 08
Sherry wrote:I'd send them condoms myself. Or the necessary drugs to help the fight against AIDS.
Dennis Barry wrote: What a waste of time and effort. Teddies, wow - what a great cure for Aids. Why keep interfering, thats there way of life out there. There are far more deserving charities in England that need support. Dont forget your own.These children are orphans for God\'s sake, it\'s not their fault they have nothing. Not only that, most of them have been infected with the Aids virus and are dying. These teddies will bring them some kind of comfort in the harrowing months that they have left to live, so i would say well done, and good luck to Marylin and Tony.
Seeing as the Catholic church wants Africans to use their willpower rather than condoms to stop the spread of AIDS, I personally think religious organisations should keep their nose out of Africa.
I know they mean well (well, some do) but religious interference is only helping to fuel the problems over there.
I feel sorry for the kids whose parents have been so badly let down by the churches.
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Bishops Marilyn and Tony Atherton Pictures: MAXINE CLARKE CTDPV16
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Dennis Barry, Laindon says...
9:14am Tue 1 Apr 08