Peter Morris:

Widnes Vikings' Director Peter Morris has recently returned from a charity mission to Ghana and is asking Widnes fans for their help.

"Early in 2008 I was asked to join a medical team ( admin only) by the Anglican Archdiocese of Accra in Ghana, West Africa. The Diocese, in partnership with an inter-denominational American charity called Branches of the Vine, aim to provide clean water facilities, a school/community building and health care to villages in the Accra region.

"Over the last 10 years the partnership has fulfilled its aims in two villages, Oduman and Twerbo. This years party was introduced to the village of Burko which is east of Accra and inland from the coast. On the surface I found Burko to be idyllic, mud huts with thatched roofs where all community activities take place under the tree in the centre of the village.

"The people are welcoming and always well presented despite the basic conditions they live in. However their water supply is drawn from a water hole a mile away. It is filthy, being used for washing and watering animals before human consumption. There is little or no education. In a land where there are over 70 different languages, mostly completely different, English is the first language.

"Of the boys in the pictures just two had any useable knowledge of English. The principle activity of the school would be to teach English so that the villagers can communicate with their own countrymen outside the community first and the outside world second.

"Health care initially will be by annual clinics where the partnership hires local medics and pharmacists, attending to treatable conditions on the spot and refering serious problems on to hospital.

"In advance of my visit the local priest was informed that I would be arriving with lots of Widnes Vikings goodies and expecting to teach them the basics of Rugby League. So armed with shirts, a mixture of the 07 and 08 kit , rugby balls, and tag rugby belts I arrived at Burko to a welcoming party of about 14 older teenage boys.

"The kit was dished out with the balls and the girls of the village performed the dance for sending their men off to war. In the heat of the mid day sun we went through the routines taught to me by Kevin Fairbanks at Ashley School, finishing off with a game of tag Rugby. It all worked amazingly well with the exception of the forward pass. They just didn't get it!

"To finish off we had a bottle of water and listened to the lads sing under the tree. It was all well worth the effort. When I return next year I will be taking a scout with me. There are more than a few budding rugby league stars out there.

"Following the visit my aim is to raise funds for the various projects as follows:-

1) To bore a water hole £3,500
2) To build a school/community building £13,000
3) July Medical Mission costs (medics and medecine) £5,000

"If you can manage to donate to this great cause I would be most grateful. Please make cheques payable to 'The Valhalla Foundation' and send to Widnes Vikings, Stobart Stadium Halton, Lowerhouse Lane, Widnes, WA8 7DZ.

"During the 2009 season we will also take the opportunity to have a matchday collection to raise funds for the people in Burko."

Peter Morris

Special Thanks go to the following for their invaluable help

Widnes Vikings for providing 30 kits
Roger Harrison of St Gerard's for providing the rugby balls
Kevin Fairbanks of Ashley School for the coaching lessons
Cathy McMullen for providing the tags and belts

Could you make a contribution to help our efforts in Ghana?
As we are a 501(c)( 3) nonprofit organization, any donations made are tax deductible.
Thank you for any assistance you can offer.