A MERCY ship that is to take vital health care to people living in the Amazon jungle has arrived in the North-East.
The Amazon Hope 2, captained by County Durham man Peter Hall, has anchored in Hartlepool Marina as part of a UK tour before leaving next year to provide healthcare for thousands of people in remote areas of the Peruvian Amazon.
Tomorrow, it will arrive in Newcastle for a three-day stay as part of a campaign to raise awareness, boost donations and encourage medical and marine experts to join the mission.
The ship is the latest initiative of Scottish-based charity the Vine Trust, which takes healthcare to poor and marginalised people.
Captain Hall, from Murton, near Seaham, whose background is with the Merchant Navy, has been involved in the sailing missions to Peru for five years, having previously worked on street programmes there.
Visitors are welcome on board in Hartlepool from 10am to 8pm today, and between those hours on Newcastle Quayside tomorrow, Saturday and Sunday. Admission is free.
For details, go to www.vine trust.org. To donate money, call (01732) 520111 and state you want to give to the trust.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article