From 1964 to 1973, the US led more than 580,000 bombing missions in Laos – equating to a mission every eight minutes, 24 hours a day, over nine years – dropping more than 2 million tons of bombs and blanketing the countryside with some 270 million submunitions.

“Only two days after our last tour to Laos on the 20^th February 2010 five more children were blown to pieces by cluster munitions (UXO), if this kind of tragedy happened in the Europe or the US, there’d be a national uproar,”  said Dermot MacWard, owner of Redspokes Adventure Tours and chair of The Laotian Villages Community Fund, LVCF.

LVCF is a  registered charity, established in 2004 by and a group of cyclists who travelled with Redspokes through rural . Inspired by their experiences, they decided to do something to help the local people who had shown them such warmth and hospitality.

The Fund provides direct financial assistance for projects that will make a difference to the quality of life of the local community. Our aim is to improve access to basic needs, such as education and fresh water. Over the years we have equipped and built two schools, completed a major water project and supported COPE. This fantastic organisation provides all of the prosthetic devices to the Lao people without limbs. This includes many people who have lost arms and legs as a result of unexploded ordinance.

This year due to circumstances beyond their control they lost vital external support for materials and patient treatment support. We would like your help in raising £10,000 ($15,000), which will provide the comprehensive treatment package for 75 patients.