Can you help David on his mercy mission?

by Graham Henry, South Wales Echo Jan 21 2012 i

A FOOTBALL scout who spent months collecting thousands of shirts, scarves and other merchandise to give to orphans is appealing for a backer after his sponsor suddenly pulled out.

David OMar, 52, from Fairwater, Cardiff, had spent three months collecting football and rugby memorabilia from across Wales to distribute in orphanages in Ukraine and Moldova. His collection, which included a shirt donated by Ukrainian Chelsea star Andriy Shevchenko as well as more than 200 scarves, now numbers over 2,000 pieces after just three months.

Nicknamed Dai Poland after his time living in the country and time spent in Eastern Europe sourcing players for Derby County and Burton Albion, David had been banking on 3,000 promised to him by a financial backer for the project. Now the backer has pulled out unexpectedly, meaning he needs to raise the money to make the trip happen. Ive worked so hard on this and got all types of shirts  Manchester United, Liverpool, Cardiff City, you name it, I have it, he told the Echo.  But a sponsor has backed out and that meant that several months of collecting shirts is in vain, and I made promises to these orphans.  Its a cause thats very close to my heart and Im just hoping that someone can come forward. He said the project had become more important to him than his scouting career. David came up with the idea of the donations after visiting an orphanage in Ukraine. After having a kick-about with some of the orphans, he made a promise to bring back football shirts and started his mammoth quest. He said: It hurts that Im in this position. I know the children well and I know they would love the shirts.  

Those two countries [Ukraine and Moldova] have nothing. Other countries like Romania are beginning to get EU help, but these two countries are in a very, very bad way.  Ive seen pictures of old ladies picking out of garbage cans for food  thats whats going on over there.  If this helps in a small way, it would mean a lot for me to make it happen.

If you would like to help finance his trip, please call 07796158727. Mr OMar will be collecting shirts outside Cardiff City Stadium at the game against Portsmouth today, and again on Tuesday in the Bluebirds match against Crystal Palace.

Read More http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/local-news/cardiff/2012/01/21/can-you-help-david-on-his-mercy-mission-91466-30168380/#ixzz1kbQJhIRA