A QUARTET of St Albans businessmen are planning a sponsored parachute jump to help impoverished children in South Africa.

Builder Kevin Edge, engineer Alan O'Brian, roofer Paul Noble and pharmaceutical researcher Billy Guiney are planning the jump to raise money for a charity called "I-Care".

Mr Edge 36, who has never done a parachute jump before said: "I-Care" is a volunteer charity in South Africa of whom I know some of the organisers personally. I met with some of them about 18 months ago and when I heard the story of the great work they are doing in South Africa to try to relieve some of the poverty I was moved to want to help out in any way I could."

"I-Care is based right next to a shanty town in Cape Town. In this shanty town people come from all over South Africa looking for work and when they get there chasing their dream, they often end up living in conditions worse than they left.

"They have appalling conditions and in some parts they have a single water tap between 500 people and no electricity.

"The children of the shanty town would sometimes hop into the garden of the small holding and steal apples from the trees. When the owner caught them once and realised their state of affairs he said that they can come back and take apples but next time they have to stay and have a shower.

"This magnanimous gesture has grown to become a Sunday school up for to 150 children who come to the house each week and are nourished physically, emotionally and spiritually by a non profit organisation run completely by volunteers on good will and donations.

"We are trying to raise money to help with the funding for pens, paper and soap and whatever else they desperately need."

The jump will be on August 6. For more details or to make a donation contact Mr Edge on 01727 868516.