THE House of Rachel charity based in Okehampton is holding an urgent appeal to help a Bulgarian girl who has been aided by the organisation in the past.

The charity has set up an appeal to help Bobby, a girl who lived in Provadia Orphanage, a facility in Bulgaria supported by the House of Rachel.

In the last few weeks Bobby has been involved in a serious car crash, leaving her fighting for her life with severe spinal injuries.

Andrew Morgan, founder of the House of Rachel, said: ‘I can clearly remember the frightened little girl who turned up in Provadia Orphanage separated from her siblings who had been placed in other orphanages and wondering what had happened to her world.

‘Life in an orphanage is tough and so many of the children are groomed by criminals and end up in a life of crime which, for the girls, usually involves prostitution but Bobby seemed to be surviving. As her 18th birthday was approaching we knew that it was only a matter of time before she would have to leave the orphanage and face the world with no job, no home, no money and little hope of a bright future.

‘Any thoughts of how we could help to improve her prospects and keep her out of the hands of the criminal gangs were abruptly halted by the sudden and devastating news that she had been involved in a serious car crash.

‘The first we knew of Bobby’s crisis was the receipt of an email. The state had paid for two major operations which saved her life but wouldn’t pay for the medicines and care she needs to make a full recovery.

‘This is normal in Bulgaria as patients are expected to pay for their own medicines but if you have been brought up in an orphanage clearly you do not have such means. The bill is 9,600 lev which is approximately £4,000.

‘The orphanage director faced an impossible dilemma; either she signed the papers authorising the treatment and in doing so, take on responsibility for the bill or walk away. She had every right to walk away and many would have as the wages for working in an orphanage are scandalously low and as a result many staff have no real affection for the children. But this lady is different, she sees all the children in her care as her own and did not hesitate to sign the papers.

‘She immediately started work on raising the money to pay the bill and managed to raise 3,200 lev but this was only a third of the amount required so she turned to us for help.

‘We had no time to launch an appeal and then wait for funds to arrive so we took the decision to send the money — approximately £2,600 — before the appeal money arrives in good faith. Matters like this just won’t wait.

‘There are many people in the Okehampton area who will know Bobby as so many local people have supported our work by joining our teams going out to Bulgaria to work in the various orphanages.’

If you would like to support the campaign you can make a donation online to NatWest Okehampton sort code 54-21-14, account ‘The House Of Rachel’ number 22074287 or by cash/cheque at OK Leisure 34, Fore St, Okehampton.