A MOTHER is preparing to fly out to Croatia to help abandoned children in an orphanage.Nicola Chilvers, 25, of Wherstead Road, Ipswich, is temporarily tearing herself away from her own son Elliott to leave him with his dad, after being selected to take part in the trip run by her university.

A MOTHER is preparing to fly out to Croatia to help abandoned children in an orphanage.

Nicola Chilvers, 25, of Wherstead Road, Ipswich, is temporarily tearing herself away from her own son Elliott to leave him with his dad, after being selected to take part in the trip run by her university.

She said 80 students applied to join the annual two-week project in June, but only 30 were selected.

Nicola was chosen because she is studying to be a learning disabilities nurse – a course that she started at Anglia Polytechnic University in October.

She said: "The orphanage is quite a run down place on the coast.

"We will mainly be redecorating the orphanage and a hospital for the children. There are about 25 children there, aged from three months to 25.

"They have all been abandoned by their parents because of their learning disabilities, so I expect it will be an emotional time as well as hard physical work.

"I'll be sad to leave Elliott, but I think it will also be hard when the time comes to leave the orphanage."

She is starting a sponsored slim to raise cash for the trip, and is appealing for financial sponsorship.

Any materials would also be welcomes, such as paintbrushes, paint, sandpaper etc.

If you can help, please call Nicola on 01473 691851.