A RETIRED nursery nurse who was so touched by the plight of Romanian orphans that she started her own charity, has launched a new appeal for toys.

Toby Lowery, of Blackpool Road, Ansdell, runs the organisation Romania Now and desperately wants people to give her toys and games, particularly educational ones, to send out to Romanian children.

And she is also looking for a local haulier or individual who will loan her the use of a 38-ton truck to transport the toys and other educational materials to the country's poorly-equipped schools.

Toby's desire to help Romanian children began in 1991, when she was working as a nursery nursing education tutor at Preston College.

She responded to an appeal made for a mature person to go to Romania to run courses to train staff working in orphanages and institutions about childcare.

While she was there the warmth and love of the Romanian children in the face of great need and suffering won her heart and upon her return in 1992 she decided to launch her own Fylde-based organisation to raise funds for them.

Now, for the first time, she is planning to bring around 30 Romanian children to the Fylde this summer.

The children will spend time in Blackpool and St Annes and Toby hopes it will be the start of many more exchanges between children from Romania and the Fylde.

Speaking about her toy appeal, Toby said: "The Romanians working with children in institutions, many of whom were abandoned, have lots of good ideas but few or no resources for the children.

"I have worked with children all my life I'm very concerned that we should help develop their education .

"More than cuddly toys, I would dearly love people to give toys like construction toys or Lego which help children to learn.

"I am also involved in sending supplies such as pens, pencils, paper, books and computers to schools"

Anybody who is able to help Romania Now's appeal or able to provide a truck should contact Toby Lowery on 734273.

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