Can you fill a 40ft container for Ghana?

IT may no longer be of use to you but to someone thousands of miles away it could make a world of difference.

Businessman Mark Brakspear, who runs Fernbank care home, in Queen’s Road, is appealing to Oldhamers to help him fill a 40ft container, bound for school children in Ghana.

Mark is after books, clothes, shoes, education and medical equipment. In fact, he says, the list of possibilities is endless.

“They can make use of almost anything over there,” said Mark, who first visited the town of Jamasi 15 years ago with his Mossley neighbour, Charles Mainoo, who has relatives over there.

Since then he’s run the London Marathon and raised £800 for a deaf school and sent several containers packed with books and other much-needed supplies.

“They’ve built a new secondary school in Jamasi but they can’t afford to equip it so the donations will go there and the Ashanti School for the Deaf, as well as other local primary schools,” he said.

“The last container we sent was on their national news.

“They’re always very appreciative, they don’t have access to books and lots of other things they need. Everything we send is always well utilised.”

This time Mark is also appealing for any unwanted musical instruments after one of the schools expressed a desire to set up an orchestra.

If you have unwanted items you wish to donate call Mark on 07850 644 097.

The container is avaialble until Monday.