A couple who quit their family home to help Russian children nearly died in a serious accident after moving to the Ukraine five months ago.

Len Joy, 53, and his wife, Pat, 53, who lived in Eastbrooks, Pitsea, have also adopted two kids, and helped build an orphanage.

They refused to be put off when a lorry crashed into their minibus within the first fortnight of arriving in the country.

Mrs Joy said: "The ambulance was from the Second World War, but the staff were wonderful."

The couple went onto the streets of Kiev as soon as they had recovered and within days had adopted two children.

Mrs Joy said: "We helped build Children's Hope, the orphanage, outside Kiev."

Mrs Joy, who had never travelled abroad before, and her husband, will be staying near Kiev, the capital of the Ukraine, for the next five years helping street children.

Published Wednesday, August 6, 2003

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