WHEN a Cockermouth woman came up with the idea of supporting an African community 25 years ago, she could never have envisaged how much was going to be achieved.

Pauline Hardie, of Wythop Mill, was president of Cockermouth Soroptimists at the time and had to choose a charity to support.

A Ugandan woman was working at the school where she taught. Her friend was trying to set up a self help group but was struggling to find funds. When Mrs Hardie heard about this she was keen to help.

The Soroptimists supported women in the community in Uganda which was badly affected by poverty and disease. Mrs Hardie and her husband, Doug later went on to set up Dedicated Women in Development (DeWoDe).

"We first went out in 1988 and have been regularly ever since," she said.

"In 2000 it became obvious they needed some healthcare."

Over the years the charity has built a health centre, staff accommodation and paid for staff and medicine.

"The health centre has gone from strength to strength, it has an inpatients, maternity and outpatients," said Mrs Hardie.

"We did an extension to the maternity unit about three years ago. Five thousand babies were delivered there last year."

The health centre has close links with the nearby primary school.

"It's fantastic to see the health education linking with the local school.

"I would not have believed that we would have gone down the health care route. We wanted to do this because of the childbirth problems, there was so much mortality - children and mothers."

The charity is made up of eight local trustees and has to raise £10,500 each year to cover salaries in Uganda.

Trustees and organises regular fundraising events, with details on its Facebook page.

The latest big funding boost was thanks to the efforts of Mrs Hardie's sister, Joan Todd, who decided to celebrate her 84th year by walking the length of Hadrian's Wall - 84 miles - in eight days.

Mrs Todd, who has homes in Wythop Mill and Bardon Mill, in the north east, only recently retired after working for more than 50 years with the NHS.

She was a healthcare assistant at Haltwhistle Hospital until she contracted Covid from a patient last year.

"This forced her into retirement as she was so ill at the time. She would still be working otherwise," said Mrs Hardie.

"We have always wanted to do a challenge and when Robson Green did a documentary about walking Hadrian's Wall and it being 84 miles we thought that fitted really well as she's 84 next month.

"It seemed perfect as it is between her two homes."

Mrs Hardie walked with her and Mr Hardie supported them both.

Mrs Todd was delighted to raise over £2,000.