Elsenham family's help for orphans

A FAMILY from Elsenham will be helping to give orphaned Romanian children the holiday of a lifetime, and they are urging others to do the same. In the summer 40 orphans will be visiting the UK for two weeks and 19 children are still looking for host famil

A FAMILY from Elsenham will be helping to give orphaned Romanian children the holiday of a lifetime, and they are urging others to do the same.

In the summer 40 orphans will be visiting the UK for two weeks and 19 children are still looking for host families to care for them during their stay.

The visit, which starts in July, has been organised by Harlow-based charity the Moreton Romanian Orphan Fund.

Elsenham teenagers Michael and Kirsty Jarvis will be welcoming back 11-year-old Nicoleta who they first hosted last year and became like "a sister" during her short stay.

Father Paul Jarvis said: "Moreton do great things for these kids, most of whom live in extreme hardship.

"Without the charity's help, they would never know what it is to be part of a loving and caring family."

As well as acting as a host family, Michael and Kirsty will be travelling to Romania in April to help the charity make arrangements for the orphans' UK visit.

"They have decided to make the long trek to Romania to see for themselves the hardships these underprivileged kids have to endure every day," said Mr Jarvis.

"And such is Michael's dedication to Moreton, that he will be taking a break from his GCSE studies to undertake a tandem skydive to raise money for the charity. At present, he is on course to raise in excess of �1000."

The Moreton charity is looking for new host families to welcome a child into their home for two weeks starting from Saturday July 24. The cost of bringing the children over will be met by the charity, meaning that families need only provide them with a home.

Anyone interested should contact Moreton hosting officer Barbara Saunders on 01279 832001.