Tec Trek To Help Coimbatore Orphans
A Burton detective is travelling to India to help restore and redecorate an orphanage. Gerry Holmes, 51, of Stretton, will be going to Tamil Nadu in southern India with World Christian Ministries along with Rod Lakin, of Tutbury, and Matt Whyman, whose parents are from Rolleston. The trio are among 18 going to redecorate, refurbish and carry out general maintenance work on a girls' orphanage in the city of Coimbatore in the state of Tamil Nadu.Mr Holmes has worked at Burton Police Station for 32 years and is currently working as prison crime investigator for Burton CID.The married father-of-three is a member of Elim Church in Moor Street, Burton, along with Mr Whyman, while Mr Lakin is a member of St Mary's Church in Tutbury.This will be the detective's third visit to the city with the World Christian Ministries.The project will last for two weeks, with the three men leaving for India on Sunday, January 18.Mr Holmes said: "I saw an advert for the project in the charity's newsletter a couple of years ago and decided to do it "We have got great friends over in India now such as leaders of the charity which is based in the UK, church leaders, orphanage leaders and schools."We all fund the trip ourselves but people who know us and from the church do give us donations to help the charity and fund materials as building materials for the project cost £7,500."Anyone wanting to make a donation to help the project can telephone Mr Holmes on 07818 871507.
