MARION Gavin from Launceston has recently written and published her third book.

The 65-year-author’s first two books were about the loves and lives of two of her Cavalier King Charles Spaniel dogs.

This latest offering focuses on Marion’s involvement with the charity, Save the Children.

Many years ago, Marion was involved with a Save the Children fundraising group in Wiltshire. She had worked on fundraising projects for the charity many years before in Sussex.

This time, she took three months’ unpaid leave from work and ploughed in her own money to travel abroad on a fact finding mission to see how the money they raised was spent.

She flew to Australia and worked with Aboriginal children.

On leaving Australia her luggage was lost. Fortunately she had her passport, money, cameras and walking boots with her but no clothes.

She spent the night in Bombay and flew to Nepal the following day and met her two travelling companions — John a young doctor and Henri who carried the luggage.

They went by van on a five-hour journey to the foothills of the Himalayas and stayed overnight in Polkera. They left at first light and starting walking up the mountains.

Three hours in and Marion slid down a landslide breaking her ankle. John had an extensive first aid kit so did her ankle up so she could get her boot on and was comfortable.

They had to wade through raging currents of water waste deep, climbing over rope bridges and walking for two days higher and higher.

As darkness approached they stayed at Hotel Lucky, a concrete shed with bunk beds built into the concrete wall. Henri gave Marion his blanket a piece of sacking as it got very cold at night.

The sanitation was a hole in the ground close by. She slept in her boots she could hear rats sniffing around.

They left early the next day they passed people who had built their homes in the mountains and they were given cups of hot goats milk with a few tea leaves on top.

As they climbed higher Marion could see the snow-capped mountains in the distance.

She realised she had not been given her mountain pass and if she had been stopped she would have been arrested and put in jail. They finally reached Baglung clinic.

Marion said: “I could not believe mothers walked miles with their children to get there. I was very impressed with the clinic and the work being done but there was also the sorrow of one baby and a child that died while I was there.”

Marion took with her the much needed polio vaccine for 100 children.

When she later flew to Delhi, she visited children in mud huts and joined in with the building of concrete homes when the rain came the mud huts got washed away.

She went to schools and orphanages and recognised some of the baby blankets that could have been knitted by her group.

On her return home, Marion travelled the South West to show this project and made thousands of pounds for Save the Children.

She has now recalled her experiences, recording it in her book ‘Children of the World,’ and visiting groups in North Cornwall to give talks.

Marion said: “The book has so much humour; you need to be broad minded. There’s sadness and a lot of laughter and an in-depth storyline. It gives those who have never seen the project an opportunity to enjoy this adventure.”

The book is available from Marion herself on 01566 777524 priced at £5.

Alternatively, if you would like Marion to speak about her experiences to your group, please contact her on the above number.