Mexborough’s mercy mission to Gambia

They will be supporting the charity Children in Crisis in the landlocked southern African nation where poverty is rife.

The team will be led by charity director Erica Lugg, wife of Mexborough Life Church pastor Rev Nick Lugg.

They will be based in the Mufulira area to the north of the country near the border with Democratic Republic of the Congo and see how people are supported to look after children in desperate circumstances.

The group has already raised £1,650 and bought 100 pairs of shoes to hand over.

Mr Lugg, who lived in Zambia for six years until 2010, said that the charity directly supports orphans and families, as well as projects providing education and training.

He said that the country’s economy was mainly based around copper mining and agriculture.

As is the case in many African countries, AIDS has taken a large toll amongst the population, leaving many orphans.

The youngest member of the group travelling to Zambia is 12 years old but the team does not just consist of church members.

It will also include some UEFA-qualified football coaches to help Zambian youngsters boost their football skills.

Mr Lugg added: “We went to one area where we were supporting some children and this guy came up to us and was one of the first children who we had supported.

“He had grown up and was doing teacher training and had his own family.

“There are children who would have been dead if we had not helped them.”

If people want to find out more, they can go to www.cicauk.org.