JOHN THORNLEY, managing director at Stockport surveying firm Fairhurst Estates, is swapping his suit and briefcase this week for a hard hat and shovel, on a 10,000-mile charitable mission to one of Africa's poorest parts.

John is going to Kenya to help build much-needed accommodation for nurses and teachers in the Nyandiwa region.

The trip has been arranged by the Rowley Project in Bramhall, an organisation dedicated to helping local people access clean water and education.

John is a director of the charity and was keen to help out personally with the latest building project.

The full é10,000 required to purchase building materials has been donated by his accountants, Mazars, whose Manchester office has advised Fairhurst Estates since 2003, through its charitable trust.

Su Rai, a partner at Mazars, said: "Hard work and dedication are second nature to John, so when we heard about his efforts with the Rowley Project, we were keen to help out.

Good causes

"The Mazars charitable trust last year donated over é150,000 to good causes, and this is certainly a terrific cause that we wanted to help out with."

The Rowley Project was established in 2000 by Steve and Angela Rowley. The charity so far has enabled Nyandiwa to establish its own water filtration project. This is self-sustaining and has already sold over 400 filters.

The local primary school has also been improved through considerable support from Kingsway School in Cheadle.

John Thornley said: "The Rowley Project is about improving opportunities for people in Nyandiwa.

"The work we've done so far with regards to providing a clean water supply has meant that families no longer contract typhoid, dysentery or cholera, but there's still lots more to do.

"The investment in new classrooms is also beginning to pay dividends - but until now there's not been anywhere for visiting teachers and health professionals to stay.

"The financial support we've received from Mazars has been extremely generous and will help address this problem."

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