BACK STORY: The co founder of HelpMadina charity in Sierra Leone persuaded 10 of his footballing friends (yes, we're very middle aged and most of us still play 5-a-side every week!) to spend a fortnight with him working there in March.

THE CHARITY WORK WE WILL DO: We'll undertake hands on work for the charity and also use our professional skills to assess further needs in the Madina community. (see montage of pictures about where we will be and what we'll do). I'm covering the education centre, community radio, water quality assessments and secondary education. Alongside the charity work we will also run a football tournament in the late afternoons for 32 local villages.

TRIP FUNDING: We are funding the whole trip ourselves, including all the charity work and community football tournament. Any support you can give goes directly into all the charity projects below.

HELPMADINA'S WORK: https://helpmadina.org.uk/ is a community charity in one of the poorest regions in one of the poorest countries in the world. HelpMadina has achieved a lot in recent years (see picture for where we're going and whats been achieved already) including a permanent Feeding Centre for malnourished children; Outreach Health Clinics; Eye Clinics and Cataract Surgery; Hernia Repairs; Community Radio, Care for the Elderly; Water Wells and Toilets; and now a new Learning Centre for children which we must kit out.

WHY HOST A FOOTBALLTOURNAMENT AS WELL AS CHARITY WORK: In an area where the average living wage is less than £1 a day the hardship and suffering that people go through can be momentarily be forgotten through the love of Football which helps to bring people together from all faiths, tribes and differing backgrounds. We'll each coach a team, and play a veterans game too - yes, my footy boots will be packed and we have 2 doctors with us so what's to lose!!!. It will be a great african-style community event - have a look at the bottom right of the picture at what happened when the winning goal was scored last time Help Madina held the tournament!!!

YOUR DONATIONS

Any donations you make go entirely into the charity work in the field in all the projects mentioned above (not football, those going fund all this too). We'd love publicity help or social media sharing too. A genuine thank you for your support. Dave