Mercy mission at sea for young volunteer Adam
AYOUNG trainee chef will soon be cooking up a storm for a very different sort of customer – on board a hospital ship in Africa.
Adam Hopkins, 18 is working towards a professional cookery qualification at Stockport College and is a chef at the Jolly Sailor pub in Davenport.
And he is due to do some sailing of his own as he is taking three months off to volunteer on the Africa Mercy, run by the charity Mercy Ships, which is the largest non-governmental hospital ship in the world, offering treatment to people who would not otherwise get medical care.
Adam, who lives in Brinnington, heard about the opportunity through a friend who is a doctor.
He said: “I have always volunteered in the past and two years ago I won the Stockport Star Award for my charity work. I really enjoy giving my time to others.”
Adam is due to sail on May 28 and will be on board for three months, cooking for the patients and staff, but first he needs to raise around £3,000 to fund the trip.
He has set up a crowdfunding page on Just Giving and in the first couple of days raised over £400 – and he is confident he will be able to get the rest in time.
“Nothing has ever stopped me from achieving my goals and my dreams,” he said.
“My grandma told me that the world needs feeding and I always remembered that.”
Adam is used to overcoming adversity – he moved out of home around 18 months ago due to a breakdown in his relationship with his parents and now lives with a friend and her family.
He has also been diagnosed with kyphoscoliosis, which is two curvatures of the spine and since last year has lost four-and-a-half stone in weight.
“I have always said to myself that there are other people a lot worse off than me and I have always had a positive attitude,” he said.
“I want to be a chef on a cruise ship in the future, so hopefully this will also help me in the long term.
“I am feeling really nervous about going, but I am also really excited.”
Adam says he has received help and support from Stockport College and Harrytown Catholic High School, which he attended, but is on the lookout for anyone able to support him.
For more information or to make a donation visit justgiving.com/crowdfunding/adam-hopkins.