THE Forest of Dean team who drove a truckload of aid to Romania in summer are adding a leper colony to their next itinerary – and while there they will help pioneer new treatment.
Conditions in the Tulcea colony, 250 miles to the south of Bucharest, are said to be grim, said Mike Authers of Coleford, with many adult and child sufferers dying each year through malnutrition and hypothermia.
"I am told they haven't had any aid for the last four years," he said. "We have also learned that they have a particular kind of leprosy treatable with special antibiotics.
"We will be taking Nick Adams of the Save the Children of Brasov Fund, who will bring enough of the medicine to treat five people for a week.
"If this treatment proves successful we may be able to save many lives."
Mike and his fellow aid workers, mostly members of the Texas Drovers Old West re-enactment team, found they learned much on their recent trip, especially about avoiding corrupt officials and making sure goods reached their targets.
"We also learned to avoid the bean stew, which with cabbage stew was the staple diet," he said.
The children really enjoyed the adventure playground which the team set up for them and they made many friends, especially the gipsies who were very hospitable.
They will return to Bradet and the orphanage and hospital they helped and will also take aid to another orphanage in Brasov this time round, with the run planned for July 17.
Before that, in March, a small party plans to visit the Tulcea leper colony to make a thorough assessment of its needs.
Aid of all kind, including donations towards the expenses of running the two lorries they may need for the trip, will be more than welcome – Mike can be contacted on 01594 837810.
The children of Cinderford Discoverers Club have already started the ball rolling by donating 20 decorated shoeboxes of gifts and clothing. Each box carries a photograph and a message from the children of Cinderford to the children of Romania.