Orphaned kids in China have a brighter life in store, thanks to a caring mum.
Nurse Fiona Hubbard, from Morpeth in Northumberland, is making her second mercy trip for children in the Hunan Province - and this time she is taking 14-year-old daughter, Vikki, and her pal Beth Gill.
Mrs Hubbard, 43, first went to China two years ago and as soon as Vikki saw her mum's video of the trip, she wanted to go.
Mrs Hubbard, of Brumell Drive, and the girls will be working in an orphanage run by charity International China Concern in Changsha, an area which has a population of more than 64 million.
Mrs Hubbard said: "We've got the support of the headmistress and the school's going to do some fundraising.
"It will be a very positive experience for Vikki and Beth to see a different culture and language. Like any teenager, Vikki doesn't show emotions particularly, but I think she'll go into a caring profession.
"Vikki just loves little kids. At the summer camp we'll be running, Vikki and Beth will be able to do activities and get alongside the kids in a different way to in the orphanage.
"They've both raised their own money. They both do paper rounds and they're very good at saving their money. The other week we baked some cakes and raised £45.
"When I was 18, I worked in a children's home for a year. Then I became a paediatric nurse so I've always had an interest in children.
"When I first went, I thought it wasn't too bad. But then I went into one of the state orphanage rooms and saw children tied to chairs. For some kids, it was probably for their own safety, but not for all of them.
"There was a little blind boy who really didn't like being touched. I persevered with him, just trying to cuddle him. Then one day I started singing to him. As soon as I did, his hand came up to my face and started tapping mine as I sang.
"That was as important as any therapy. Now I'm really looking forward to going back to see how they've grown up."
Vikki's father, Richard, UK director of ICC, said: "Sixty percent of the children we look after would have been dead by now if it hadn't been for us but all our income comes from individuals.
Vikki and Beth, 13, are both pupils at King Edward's School in Morpeth
For more information about the charity, call Richard Hubbard on (01670) 505 622.
