Arthur's mission to help children in need (From Ledbury Reporter)

Arthur's mission to help children in need

4:30pm Sunday 28th October 2012 in News By Lydia Johnson

A MAN who lived on the streets before turning his life around to help poor children has been shortlisted for an international humanitarian award.

Arthur Etheridge founded his charity, Hope Carriers Trust, in 2004 after a trip to Romania in 1997.

Since then the 70-year-old, who lives in Hereford, has taken supplies to orphaned and homeless children living and learning in a community centre he bought and developed.

Arthur said the nomination from the AidEx group came as a complete surprise.

He said: “I couldn’t read or write when I left school.

"I struggled and lived on the streets in London for eight-years, but I found God and realised his vision for me was to help others, and that turned out to be in Romania. Helping those children is my life.”

Arthur, who was nominated for the award by Roy Dixon, said he couldn’t have carried out his charity work without the support of his wife, Yvonne, and hopes to continue working in Romania as well as helping the homeless in Hereford.

The winner will be invited to receive the award in Brussels at AidEx 2012, a humanitarian and development trade show aimed at finding ways to deliver aid more efficiently.

Arthur is also appealing for people to fill shoe boxes with toys and hygiene supplies for children in Romania.

Anyone who wants to do this can call 01432 274724 to arrange delivery and collection of the boxes