A YOUNG Wellington woman’s mercy mission to Africa has been delayed because of the coronavirus crisis.

Kayley Readings, of Burgage, was set to spend Easter in Kenya, helping to install a harvesting system to collect and store water in a village community centre.

The project would save villagers having to walk long distances to fetch clean water, especially during periods of drought.

But with the Covid-19 outbreak spreading around the world, the Kenyan Government has closed the country’s borders to the UK and other nations with confirmed cases of the virus, to protect its citizens from the risk that visitors might carry it.

Now, Kayley, 32, hopes she may instead be able to make the trip in August with Christian charitable organisation Young Life International.

If it was still not possible to go in the summer, she is determined to go just as soon as the Young Life volunteers are granted entry to the country.

Kayley said: “It is really disappointing that our visit has had to be postponed but of course we completely understand that local Kenyans have to be protected and it is far more important that we do not put lives at risk.

“However, the delay does mean that I have more time to continue with my fundraising in Wellington to support our work and help to make it as effective as possible.

“I have had fantastic support in the town so far and I have raised nearly £800 thanks to my family and friends and local businesses as well as the regular customers of the Rule 7 bar and bistro where I work behind the bar and in the kitchen.

“Rule 7’s owner Donna Munson has been a real rock, encouraging me and helping with events and publicity for the cause, including a tabletop sale I held in the premises last month.”

As well as working on the water harvesting project near Kilifi, about 35 miles from the coastal city of Mombasa, Kayley will also be helping to distribute mobility aids to villagers in the area.

“Unfortunately, there still remain social taboos about disability in parts of Kenya, and so we hope that with giving out the mobility aids and teaching people how to use them we can help to break down those feelings,” said Kayley.

Anyone who would like to support the charity project can do so through Kayley’s Facebook presence or her GoFundMe page, or by visiting Rule 7, or she can be reached on 07595 630805.

It will be Kayley’s third charity visit to Kenya and on a previous occasion she helped to distribute sewing machines to village women to empower their lives.