CHARITY fund-raiser Kath Richardson is urging the people of Bolton to help provide an ambulance service in a Romanian town.

Kath has been involved in fund raising for the street children of Barlad and knows how desperately an ambulance is needed.

The Barlad fire service is a pilot scheme. It is not run by the military as other such services are in Romania. The firemen hope to provide an improved fire and rescue service, including an ambulance facility.

Fireman Costel Florea has appealed for help to Kath, who lives in Wythburn Avenue, Bolton.

In a letter to her, he says: "The first aid at road accidents and at fires is covered by the local hospital using 20 to 30-year-old ambulances with no internal equipment and without the funds available to upgrade.

"My organisation has taken over this role with the full support of the hospital.

"However, even our equipment and training is limited to only basic first aid as taught by trauma technicians from Greater Manchester Fire Service. We currently use the fire appliance instead of an ambulance."

He goes on: "We hope to be able to provide professional emergency first aid cover for a large area in conjunction with the local hospital."

Kath recently visited Costel and his fellow firemen who are working hard to improve the fire service and help the many street children by providing food for them.

Now they hope to extend their service to cover first aid but need an ambulance.

Kath, who organises various fund raising events through the Good News for Romania charity she runs with her husband, Dave, hopes to get an ambulance donated or get enough money together, through donations, to buy an ambulance.

She says: "I think we can buy a reasonably good old ambulance in good condition for around £1,500 and it will cost us around £1,000 to get it to Romania. We would also need money to buy equipment for the ambulance."

Firefighters from Bolton Station have travelled to Barlad to give the firemen there first aid training. Now all they need is the ambulance and equipment to put that training to good use.

Kath and Dave are no strangers to Romania and the struggles of the people there.

They have regularly provided aid for a now-closed orphanage and have an adopted Romanian daughter, Madalina.

Anyone who can help with Kath's latest mission for Romania can ring her on Bolton 841906.