A PRESTON woman whose family and friends are living in the shadow of death in a poor region of Africa is pleading with local folk to dig deep and donate cash to help her make a difference.

Mary Woodworth, of Liverpool Old Road, Walmer Bridge, Preston, was born and raised in Mulanje, in the African country of Malawi -- a place struggling in poverty, she claims.

According to Mary the country is one of the poorest on Africa where many people suffer with Malaria, TB, HIV and AIDS.

Mary, 37, has already lost two of her sisters to illness in the country. Her youngest sister was just 28 when she died, along with her husband. The couple's three orphaned sons now live with their grandmother.

"When I last visited in October 2001 the carpenters were making more coffins than furniture, it is desperate," said Mary.

A World Health Organisation report shows that more than three parents die and more than ten children become orphans every hour.

Mary, came to Preston in 1984 after she met and married her husband Keith, who she met while he was teaching in Malawi.

The couple intended to return to Mary's homeland a few years later but disease became rampant. "It's shocking when I visit now. I've lost so many of my friends to disease my generation is being wiped out.

"It is hard on the grandparents who are often very frail and when their children die they look after their grandchildren -- the children who don't have grandparents are then orphaned," said Mary.

To help the people in Malawi Mary formed the charity Friends of Mulanje Orphans (FOMO) two years ago which aims to help the children by providing improved health, education, shelter and food.

The Kumwamba Orphans' Care Centre in the country, which was established by the charity, is now full to capacity and Mary and Keith have now decided to open feeding centres around Mulanje as well.

"At my father's funeral there were children everywhere as we have a tradition of cooking for three days when someone dies -- it's a guaranteed meal ticket -- when I was little I was afraid of funerals -- now children hang around waiting for food," said Mary.

To help FOMO contact Mary and Keith on 619409.