CARING for others is literally a mission of Mercy for Alan Kershaw.

For the past ten years, he has devoted time and expertise to the Mercy Ships - floating hospitals which deliver first world care to third world countries.

And it is something he would not have missed for the world.

He and his wife, Jo, have only recently returned from a stint on the ship, providing medical care for people in Guinea - people for whom treatment is normally primitive at best.

Earlier this month, the couple from Thurgoland spoke about their work with the Mercy Ships charity at a service in St Luke’s church in Worsbrough Common.

Alan, a retired anaesthetist, explained the faith-based charity was set up 40 years ago by an American called Don Stephens.

“He had a dream of taking first world medical care to third world countries and he set about doing this with a series of ships,” said Alan, 61.

Africa Mercy, on which Alan and Jo were recently based, is the latest and the largest non-government hospital ship in the world. It spends ten months of the year in western Africa, in Guinea at the moment.

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“It provides world class surgery treating a variety of conditions,” said Alan, who spent 25 years at Barnsley Hospital.

“I was asked to go out there ten years ago and I have been back every year since, working from the ship as it berths at a particular country.

“We do everything from neck tumours to general surgery to orthopaedics. It is set up as a proper hospital with wards, theatres, scanners etc.”

At any one time there are some 450 people on board and half live on the ship the year round. The rest are people like Alan who fly in for several weeks to do a particular service.

Jo is a self-employed computer consultant who volunteered to go along.

“She did dental screenings among other things,” said Alan. “She had a very varied time.”

The charity is unique in that it is paid for by the people who work for it. If you want to volunteer you have to pay your own way - flights, accommodation etc.

The current vessel was paid for by a well-wisher, but there are donations and a UK office to deal with running costs. It is an international movement.

As it happens, his most recent visit was possibly Alan’s last as an anaesthetist.

“I will be moving into teaching and training as the ship is keen to build medical capacity in the countries it visits,” he said. “I will be doing more work on the ground, although ship-based.”

Retired from Barnsley Hospital 18 months ago, Alan finds the work tiring but incredibly rewarding.

“The standard of surgery and anaesthesia needed is hard because of the type of patient we deal with,” he said. “Things you would not see at home for example, a huge jaw tumour which would have been spotted by a dentist when it was tiny. These things kill quickly.

“It is hugely rewarding, working with people who otherwise have no access to our standard of surgery.”

Mercy Ships is a Christian charity and so ideal for Alan, a churchwarden at Holy Trinity in Thurgoland.

“I’m so glad I got into this,” he said. “It is the best thing I have ever done - apart from my marriage and my son.”

Son 23-year-old Jack has also been involved, accompanying his dad for a Mercy Ships stint in Togo a couple of years ago.

“To volunteer to help other people is one of the most rewarding things you can do,” said Alan.

“Helping those less fortunate than yourself. I encourage anyone to take part in some way or other.”

n To donate to Mercy Ships by phone call 01438 727800 or for more information info@mercyships.org.uk