Hibs fans to take Ukraine children gifts

Published on 21/12/2006 12:01

HIBS fans are set to travel to Ukraine to bring Christmas presents to children in orphanages they support.

Steven Carr and Alix Stewart of the Dnipro Appeal are leaving for the city on January 3 with suitcases full of Barbie dolls.

They plan to buy other presents, including baby clothes and soft toys, once they have arrived in Ukraine.

Mr Carr said: "We'll do most of the shopping there but we have to get the Barbie dolls here because they struggle to get them there."

He added that he was hoping a store in Edinburgh might make them a good deal on the dolls.

The registered charity came about after Hibs drew against Ukrainian side Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk in last year's Uefa Cup.

Forty-year-old alarm engineer Mr Carr decided to take over some football tops for under-privileged children, which started a bigger project that has now raised more than 20,000.

The Dnipro Appeal helps Predniprovsk Tuberculosis Children Centre, as well as a local pregnancy crisis centre and the smaller Odinkovka orphanage.