A BERE Alston man is taking aid to Macedonia on May 14 and would appreciate help with acquiring items for needy people in Sköpje.

Trevor Paddon-Hall has visited Macedonia before, and is also planning mercy missions to Bosnia and the Congo.

He will be accompanied on his trip to Macedonia by a retired priest from Cork, Father Michael O'Malley. On a recent trip the pair were surprised to see three institutions that looked very much like prisons, housing an average of 380 disabled children in each.

Trevor said: 'They were confined to what were best described as cages, with very dedicated staff who were only able to feed the children and change them. There was no time for playing or taking them outside into the fresh air and each carer had 16 children to look after.'

These children have never seen normal clothes, only pyjamas, which were blue and white striped. So they desperately need children's pyjamas of all sizes for approximately 1,000 children. Also needed are any mobiles that can hang from the ceiling to give some joy to these children's lives.

'All these children are bed-ridden and many will be dead within a year to two years,' Trevor said.

Trevor and Father Michael are also raising funds for two long-wheel-based ambulances for two children's homes — one bordering Albania and one bordering Greece. These homes are in a rough terrain area and normal vehicles would not suffice.

They are also trying to set up two 'mother centres' to help widows become self-sufficient by teaching them how to knit and repair clothes.

The list of items required for these includes sewing machines, both electrical and mechanical; knitting needles; wool; cottons and threads and sewing needles.

Pencils, large piece jigsaw puzzles and tennis balls are needed for the special needs centres, while the children's homes need toothbrushes, toothpaste, pyjamas and mobiles.

Children's shoes, woollen gloves, sock and scarves of all sizes are needed for distribution to poor people. Due to a complete lack of heating, money is also desperately required to purchase woodburners, as well as food and medicines.

Trevor and Father O'Malley will be accompanied by Bere Ferrers resident Harry Davies.

Donations can be sent, made payable to 'Running on Wheels', to Trevor at 30 Marythorne Road, Bere Alston, PL20 7BZ. Trevor can also be contacted there or on 01822 840091 with any offers of items — which should be received by the end of April for customs clearance.