Liu came into our lives in 2007 via BaoBei Foundation, a non-profit organization based in Shanghai that provides life saving surgeries for Chinese orphans. She was born with an Encephalocele (a rare condition which causes hydrocephalus). Liu was abandoned at an early age, and was subsequently taken into care at an orphanage in a province close to Shanghai. BaoBei Foundation became involved in helping Liu through a visit to her orphanage by one of their staff and a doctor from Shanghai Children’s Medical Center. She was found to be in need of a critical neuro-surgery that could only be done in Shanghai. Baobei Foundation’s volunteer staff helped to raise the funds necessary to help Liu and then arranged the aftercare she needed to be sure she did not have any complications.

My wife Claudine was aware of this, and offered to provide a Healing Home for Liu during her recovery.

So this timid, withdrawn, weak child came into our home, unable to communicate or walk, and immediately became part of our family.

We cared for Liu for 2 years, until my family moved back to UK . During that time, with much love from Claudine and my daughters Olivia and Sophia, Liu blossomed into a strong, confident, talkative, jumpy, beautiful young girl, and is now in the process of International adoption. We wish her adoptive family all the best fortune in having this approved by China’s authorities as soon as possible.

We became acutely aware, while living in China, that organizations like Baobei Foundation play a vital role in saving the lives of children with critical medical needs. The word ” Baobei ” means, Precious Child. Liu will always be a very special Baobei to our family. It is clearly apparent that without the help of this foundation Liu’s life would have turned out quite differently. We also know that there are many more who need help.

I am therefore undertaking a 250 km walk through the Western part of the Gobi Desert in July 2010, by competing in the Gobi March, as part of RacethePlanet (http://www.racingtheplanet.com/), in an effort to raise funds for BaoBei Foundation. This challenge is tiny in comparison to the challenges these Baobei’s encounter daily in just trying to cope and adapt to their every changing lives. I hope you will click here, and make a contribution that will change their lives.

Best wishes to all

David Wallace