A FLEDGLING Tavistock-based charity set up six months ago is to benefit from a double-marathon fundraising effort by its young founders next month.

Tom Davies and Amanda Bridgewater are dividing their time between training for the London and Paris marathons, and their new charity, Liberis, which helps institutionalised children in Romanian orphanages move to small foster houses.

The idea for Liberis came after Oxford graduates Tom and Amanda, both 22, worked as volunteers for the White Cross in Romania.

Amanda said: 'We were able to strike up a relationship with the state, whereby if we could buy a house, they would pay for the running costs.

'This was a real break-through. We never wanted to get to the point where they were dependent on us to run these houses.'

Everyone remembers the pitiful pictures of children in Romanian orphanages ten years ago.

Although the situation has improved, there are still more than 100 children being abandoned, not even orphaned, every year in Bihor county alone. This is where Liberis is working.

After leaving university, Tom and Amanda spent two months on intensive research in Romania.

Working with doctors and the state's child protection department, they decided to target their efforts on the younger children at the main Oradea orphanage in Bihor.

Liberis approaches companies and national bodies for funds. Tom and Amanda also give talks at schools which provide money through their own fundraising efforts.

And they recently received a £15,000 grant from the Canadian Imperial Bank.

'Fingers crossed, they are going to support us for the next four years. They help growing charities and they're talking about £30,000 to £40,000, which is a real breakthrough.'

Liberis bought its first house in September, where eight children live in a family environment, attend normal schools and receive love, care and attention.

'It's a whole new world for them,' said Tom, who stressed Liberis and social workers in Romania ensure there is no last chance the children could be reunited with their families before entering their new home.

Liberis keeps in close contact with the house through their field worker in Romania and has access at all times.

Tom, from Yelverton, and Tavistock-based Amanda are also interested in helping introduce schemes to stop the initial abandonment of children.

Tom said: 'We're learning a huge amount very quickly, it's very exciting. We never know what we're going to have to do by the end of the week.

'For the first few weeks of the year we were in Romania employing people, then we came back here and read all about employment law, then did more fundraising.'

Tom and Amanda left for Romania again on Tuesday, to look for a suitable second Liberis house. They aim to buy a further three by the end of the year.

They work from an office in Duke Street, kindly donated by David Balment.

'It's really helped us and it's revolutionised the amount of work we can do,' said Tom.

The couple are running dozens of miles each week for their marathon attempts, which they hope will raise more desperately needed funds for Liberis.

Anyone who would like to help Liberis should call 01822 618448 or e-mail [email protected]">[email protected]