Steve Morris, aged 40, of Littlegate, Westhoughton, has two off-road ambulances which are destined for Bamako, the capital city of Mali in west Africa. He and two friends from Preston and Windermere founded the charity Bamako Bampots to raise money to buy and equip the ambulances, and they need £30,000 to achieve their goal.
They have already raised £8,000 through sponsored walks, skydives, bring and buy sales and other charity events, and they hope to raise the rest of the money in time to have the ambulances in action in Mali by December.
Mr Morris said: “We don’t believe in just going and dumping the gear. We support them for a minimum of three years.
- “The people of Bamako are very proud, and they don’t want handouts. They want help getting on their own two feet.
- “We just want to make a difference. When you donate cash, especially to Mali, which is very corrupt, hardly any of it actually gets there.
- “This is our way of just giving the people a little bit of help.”
Mr Morris wanted to help the people of Mali after seeing their plight while taking part in the Plymouth to Banjul Rally, which ends in The Gambia. The ambulances will serve 11 villages around Bamako, where people have to walk at least 75 miles across mud tracks to get any medical help. They will be equipped with generators, lighting, solar cookers and medical supplies, and will operate as mobile field hospitals for people who need neo-natal care, anti-malarial drugs and other basic medical needs.
The first ambulance is under restoration and strengthening at a garage in Darcy Lever. When the second is ready they will both be driven across land to Africa. They will be fully equipped with medical supplies. Taking the ambulances to Mali may involve either costly shipping or a dangerous drive through the bandit-plagued north of the country.
Mr Morris said: “I have friends who are mechanics who are helping with the work. The ambulances have had to be stripped and rebuilt. Neighbours, friends and family have been organising fundraising events with the most recent being a quiz night at a neighbour’s house which 50 people attended. Organiser Rebecca Hannington raised £414 to be split between Bamako Bampots and Bolton Cardiac Support Group.
Mr Morris said: “The charity trustees bear the overheads so any money donated goes straight to the ambulances and medical equipment.”
The information communication technology consultant is planning to walk the 75 miles in Bamako carrying a firefighter’s test dummy to find out for himself what people undergo when seeking medical treatment. As well as providing transport, money will also fund a field clinic central to surrounding villages.
Mr Morris said: “The people do not want pity, they just need a little hand. This programme will run for three years.”
