AN OKEHAMPTON church is urging people not to throw their old or unwanted shoes away, and instead turn them into much needed cash to help orphans affected by HIV and Aids in Malawi. Inspiration (Church of the Nation International) based in Okehampton has just been registered as a centre for the BBC Blue Peter ShoeBiz Appeal, supporting Unicef. The Blue Peter Appeal recycles unwanted shoes to help the many orphans and other children made vulnerable by HIV and AIDS in Malawi. Shoes collected for Shoe Biz will be sold in countries where many people buy their shoes second-hand. This money will then go to buy food, seeds and books for Children's Corners in Malawi. The Rev Chris Bourne and his wife Brenda visited Kenya last year to speak at a pastors' convention which focused on family and marriage issues facing the country. The Rev Mike Davies, the senior pastor at Inspiration, said: 'Having visited Africa many times, we need to look at whatever way there is to support so many millions of people suffering all over Africa. Each one of us can do our part. 'Having lost my own brother through AIDS, I am well aware of the individual suffering through this disease. 'With the added emotional tragedy of children in Malawi being left with no family support, through loss of parents, then let us do our best to help those who cannot help themselves.' The Inspiration Centre, in Northfield Road, Okehampton will be open for unwanted shoes to be deposited, on Tuesday evenings between 4pm and 5.30pm. Shoe deliveries must be through the blue door only — in order not to interrupt other activities in the centre at the same time. The church stresses that: l Shoes must be in pairs. l Shoes should be tied in pairs or fixed with an elastic band. l All shapes and sizes of shoes, boots and sandals are wanted. l Shoes must be of a good quality. l Permission must be obtained from the person whom the shoes belong to. More than 600,000 children have lost one or both of their parents because of AIDS in Malawi — that is one in every ten children. Through the Appeal, Blue Peter aims to create hundreds of community-based centres known as Children's Corners. These centres will provide orphans and other vulnerable children with the protection, care and support that they so desperately need. The collection is being led by Mr Bourne and Mrs Della Ball and runs for the next nine months. For further information please contact Chris on 01837 53797.