IMPOVERISHED Indian children are set to benefit from the support of a trainee doctor from Darlington.

Medical student Alex Bamford is about to swap the North-East of England for the North-East of India in a bid to provide healthcare for children in need.

The 23-year-old, from Darlington, will spend two months working to help communities in the poverty-stricken state of Orissa.

Now in her final year of studying medicine at the University of Leicester, Ms Bamford will sit her final exams before leaving for India in April.

While there, she will volunteer for Love the One, a charity aiming to provide free, accessible and comprehensive health care for children from a variety of difficult backgrounds.

With another student, Ms Bamford will play an active part in caring for youngsters who are malnourished, traumatised and victims of child labour and abuse – many of whom have never received medical care.

She said: “I’ll be part of the team and will get involved wherever I can – anything I can do, I’ll do it.

“I wanted to do something to help impoverished children and this will help to broaden my horizons and will give me the opportunity to travel and learn more about health care systems in other parts of the world.

“Every little helps and I’m looking forward to getting involved with a charity that has such a holistic view of medicine – it’s not just about treating disease, it’s about the community and education.

“I don’t have a lot of experience of the situation in India but this will highlight the problems in the distribution of wealth as well as poverty and the problems that brings.”

Ms Bamford wants to encourage other young people to follow in her footsteps and to make a difference where possible.

She said: “It’s important to see the world and what goes on outside of Darlington, to have good experiences and to learn from them.

“I’d tell everyone who’s able to get involved with a charity that makes a difference to communities, especially for people who are so grateful for the help and in need of it on a grand scale.”

When she returns home, Ms Bamford hopes to take up a role as a junior doctor.

For more information about Love the One or to make a donation, visit lovetheone.org.