£20,000 of aid set for Madagascar (From South Wales Argus)

£20,000 of aid set for Madagascar

5:20pm Monday 1st June 2009

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A Newport businessman is sending £20,000 worth of equipment to help disabled people in Madagascar.

Trevor Palmer has already sent equipment to Tsunami victims in Asia and earthquake victims in Kashmir.

He decided to help out people in Madagscar because of his friendship with Christina Dodwell, whose charity - The Dodwell Trust - supports the poor East African country.

Mr Palmer has worked around the world, in countries like Senegal and Ethiopia.

He said: “In many countries, it’s as if disabled people don’t exist. They can’t go to school and can’t get work. The equipment will give them opportunity.”

Mr Palmer’s Global Leather Consulting Company, based at Enterprise Way initially made leather products such as ladies' handbags.

But after he was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1994, Mr Palmer realigned his work to make wheelchair accessories, leather gloves and bags for disabled people and walking sticks.

The £20,000 worth of equipment was collected from his own business plus two clients, Homecraft Rolyan and Able2Wear.

The goods include supports and belts for knee, back and ankle injuries plus physiotherapy equipment such as walking frames and hoists.

Miss Dodwell, a travel writer who lives in Monmouth, visited Mr Palmer’s warehouse on Saturday. She said: “It will be immensely appreciated.”

Miss Dodwell will now send a list of equipment to Madagascar’s Ministry of Health, asking if it will to pay for shipping of the equipment.

Newport West MP Paul Flynn also visited Mr Palmer's warehouse on Saturday.

On his internet blog, he praised Mr Palmer's not-for-profit work and the fact he continues to help poor countries despite his own disability.

Information on The Dodwell Trust is available at www.dodwell-trust.org and details of Mr Palmer’s work are at www.responsABLEassistance.org

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