A BLACKWOOD man who set up a charity to help Romanian children suffering from HIV/Aids says he still urgently needs support from the people of Gwent.

Paul Davies (pictured) gave up his job and sold his home five years ago, to move to the country and form Everyone's Child Romania.

The charity, which is supported by his friends and family and churches in the Blackwood area, helps Romanian families to keep their sick children at home - providing food, clothes and also treats and presents for the many families that are also poverty-stricken.

But the charity still desperately needs funds to keep going and Mr Davies returns to Blackwood regularly in a bid to raise the £5,000 necessary to keep the project going for each four-month period.

This week Mr Davies told the Argus that the scale of the HIV/Aids tragedy in children in Romania is huge.

"There are at least 1,400 cases in just this one county - and there are 40 counties in Romania," he said.

And he adds that life-prolonging anti-viral drugs are only available for around 50 to 60 per cent of Romanian children with the disease.

At the moment Everyone's Child Romania is helping more than 60 families, but as soon as a child is lost - two have died in the last few months - there are several requests for other youngsters to be taken on.

"We try to give these children some happiness in their short lives - otherwise they live in misery and die in misery," said Mr Davies.

"We also try to help them to die at home, with dignity, and pay for the funerals if people cannot afford it."

Mr Davies has been trying to arrange a large fund-raising event, such as a pop concert, but says there has been little interest in his appeals for help. Aids is not a popular charity, he feels, but he says the problem is far from going away.

The charity now needs cash donations, so it can buy food, medicines and clothes and treats for the children. Donations of items such as clothing are not needed at present. Anyone who can help should contact charity trustee Wendy Dando on 01495 222729.