He's amassed 15 years of visits to Romania in his work as a trustee with a help group.

And there's no sign of his tremendous support coming to an end. He'll be back there later this week. RICHARD MENNEAR caught up with him.



THINK of Romania and you might imagine desperate poverty.
We've all seen the pictures of bleak communities and youngsters struggling to live.

But Michael Sumpter has a different view.

"When people think of Romania they only ever mention what they read in the newspapers and that is stories about children being chained to beds," said Mick, 47.

But he added: "That is only a very small part and the country has a lot more to offer.

"What amazes me is how nice people are and I have never once felt threatened going over there."

Michael regularly visits the country to work on projects with children in his role as trustee with the European Children's Help Organisation (ECHO).

He has been travelling to Romania since 1994.

But anyone who thinks the country is still in the dark ages is miles from the truth.

"There are lots of similarities between this country and Romania," said the Hartlepool father-of-two who is also director of Hartlepool firm MKM building supplies, in Burn Road.

"In all the years that I have been going out there I have seen a lot of investment," said Michael. In terms of development, they are probably around 10 to 15 years behind us.

"However, there are still serious levels of poverty in many parts of the country."

Michael, added: "ECHO offers financial support, works with local charities, and offers aid to HIV sufferers and children involved in trafficking."

His latest project is to convert an old farm into an outdoor activities centre, similar to the Carlton Outdoor Education Centre, in Carlton.

It's that project which will see him return to Romania later this week.

"One of our projects is to convert an old farm into something similar to the Carlton Outdoor Education Centre. I thought it would be a good idea to take two instructors from Carlton over to Romania to use their expertise to get the centre started."

Michael, who is also a governor at Stranton Primary School, added: "It was a tremendous experience and we have plans to go back there in August to transform two huge barns into a sports hall and camping area."

The accommodation is expected to be ready for the beginning of next year and more than £30,000 will be pumped into the scheme.

Michael, along with deputy manager of the Carlton Centre, Nigel Horne and senior instructor Graham Johnson recently visited Romania for a week.

Michael, who lives in the Rift House area of town, and said: "At present, ECHO trustees are involved with several projects in Romania, mainly in and around the city of Iasi, in the eastern region of the country.

While there recently, Nigel and Graham were setting up activities similar to ones that are used at Carlton.

Michael said: "One of our projects is to convert an old farm into something similar to what there is at Carlton. ECHO has already invested £15,000 into this project, which has been used to build a new shower and toilet block."

"The farm, which has just been named St Panaghia Centre, is two miles outside a town called Pascani. The area surrounding the farm has a river, some small ponds which are ideal for canoeing and woodland which could be used for orienteering and forest adventures.

"The project is currently relying on volunteers and the long term goal is to have a team in place running the site."

He has already made three trips to Romania since January and he is planning three more trips before the year is out.

Michael said: "I can credit my work with ECHO to the Mail after I saw a story in the early 1990s looking for more volunteers. I called the number and went along to a few meetings in Stockton and I have been with them ever since.

"The work is very rewarding and I relish the opportunity to help out other people. I have met a lot of nice people and done a lot of good things through ECHO and I have loved every minute."

On Friday, May 30, Michael will be travelling to Romania with a group of schoolchildren and teachers from Stranton Primary School.

Ten lucky students who attend the schools weekly Romanian club have been chosen to go on the week-long visit where they will visit the new camp.

Not only is Michael helping to improve the lives of people in Romania but he is also trying to save lives in Hartlepool through the Kay Smith Fund.

The fund was set up in January 2006 in memory of the Hartlepool woman who died of breast cancer aged 36. The fund pledged to raise £42,000 over three years to help fund the children's bereavement service at Hartlepool and District Hospice.

Single Michael, who has two daughters, Ashleigh Archer, 14 and 30-year-old Leanne Harrison, said he does it simply because he wants to give something back.

"I have come through life and looked around at those people who have helped me out and there comes a point where you want to give something back."