As many of you will know , since leaving Fleetwood High , where she taught science , Pat has been living and working in Namibia on and off for 20 years - first as a volunteer with VSO and then in the field of Children's Rights . During that time she became very close friends with a Namibian lady - Loidie Okazie who had just returned to Namibia after living in exile . Loidie was the sole carer of her granddaughter - Ndina and when Loidie died in 2008, the extended family asked Pat to take on the responsibility and Pat became Ndina's carer . As you can imagine , having a 6 year old come to live with you was something of a shock to the system ! Ndina is now 14 and is a very accomplished athlete - training at junior olympic level with the Namibian Rhythmic Gymnastic Team . She was selected to take part in the World Championships of Performing Arts in 2016 but Pat couldn't afford the costs so the organisers agreed to defer Ndina's place until this year . The total cost to Pat is going to be in the region of £11,000 and I hope that given Pat's circumstances ( still working very hard when most of her contemporaries are well retired !!! ) and the 'bumpy ride' that Ndina suffered in her first 6 years , some lovely people may be moved to support Pat in her efforts to get Ndina to the championships. Thank you in anticipation .