Published: Saturday, 4th July, 2009 4:00pm

Orphan mission

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A SELFLESS Slough resident is embarking on a 3,000 mile round trip to volunteer at an orphanage in Belarus.

Kyle Newton, 28, who works as a buying assistant for Heatherwood and Wexham Park Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, left for the Zhordina Orphanage in Minsk yesterday (Friday) in a convoy consisting of volunteers from the "Leaves of Hope" charity and ten teenagers from deprived backgrounds in the UK.

The group will be involving 98 three to six-year-old children in the charity"s summer play scheme as well as provide them with desperately needed support and care.

The former army medic said: 'I have always been interested in charity work and after visiting the orphange a few years ago while in the army, it made me realise just how much I actually have and I can do more to help those who are less fortunate.

"We are bringing ten underpriviliged 15-year-olds from the UK with us to mentor them in life and social skills, discipline and respect for others, as well as make them realise that they still have so much more than many other people.

"The orphanage does so much good work for the children but they do need our help and I am more than happy to offer my time to them.'

The team is due to return from the trip on July 17. The Leaves of Hope charity was started in 1999 and works in close co-operation with Belarussian partners to offer support to disadvantaged children in the country.

For more information visit www.leaves-of-hope.co.uk