UK News

Reigning four-time European Laser Champion and one of Britain’s greatest medal hopes at the Olympics, racer Paul Goodison, has announced his support for the seagoing charity Mercy Ships which provides free medical care to the people of Africa.

While his dreams of winning an Olympic gold are his top priority, Paul has taken the time this week to confirm his support of Mercy Ships as he is acutely aware that the suffering of millions of people around the world will continue throughout the Games.  read more »

A student from Aberdeen has just returned from war-torn Liberia after five months volunteering on board the world’s largest charity hospital ship.

Peter Fullerton (25), a graduate in engineering from Aberdeen University, volunteered as a deck hand on board the Africa Mercy and is highlighting the work of the charity as part of International Youth Day.

International Youth Day encourages young people to engage in issues around the world and Peter’s work on the Africa Mercy gave him a unique opportunity to engage with the people of Liberia.  read more »

World leader in noise and acoustic control products, IAC, has donated six Noishield Louvres for the children’s play area onboard the Africa Mercy – the world’s largest charity ship.

Currently in Liberia, the ship provides free health care to the people of Africa.  Young patients, as well as the children of the volunteer crew, will benefit from IAC’s generous donation.

IAC is a global company and was founded in 1949. It offer solutions to a wide range of noise pollution and sound quality problems.   read more »

It’s not everyday that Mercy Ships volunteer doctors get a chance to gather together outside of the operating theatre, but the British Association of Oral and Maxillo Facial Surgeons in Cardiff Wales earlier this month provided just that opportunity.

A handful of Mercy Ships doctors and surgeons gathered from around the UK to join Dr. Gary Parker, Africa Mercy Chief Medical Officer and maxillofacial surgeon, as he presented the opening lecture at the association’s annual scientific meeting in Cardiff City Hall.  read more »

THREE students from Bath have marked the end of their A Levels by getting on their bikes and pedaling from France to Gibraltar in aid of Mercy Ships.

Jake Tempo, Alex Wildy and Chazz Fisher from Ralph Allen School have swapped exam stress and revision for a 2,000-mile charity ride from St Malo in Brittany to the famous Rock - a journey that will take roughly six weeks. The three friends are using the marathon journey to raise £6,000 for Mercy Ships.  read more »

Ann Gloag, co-founder of the Stagecoach transport company, has joined the board of Mercy Ships UK, after supporting the charity for almost 10 years.

Already an international board member for Mercy Ships, Ann has joined the UK board following the successful launch of its biggest-ever ship last year.

The Africa Mercy, formerly a rail ferry, was purchased for the charity by Ann Gloag in 1999 for over £4million and is now the world’s largest charity hospital ship.  read more »

With the help of friends from the Ballyholme Yacht Club, Christine and Brian Martin are organizing a sponsored sail from Bangor, North Wales to Bangor, Northern Ireland, in aid of Mercy Ships.  read more »

All along the backwater,
Through the rushes tall,
Ducks are a-dabbling,
Up tails all!

Kenneth Grahame’s Ducks’ Ditty will be echoed at Molesey Lock, near Hampton Court Palace, London on 31st August when 250,000 record-breaking ducks will be launched at the Great British Duck Race in aid of charity.

The ducks will float 1 km down the river to Albany Reach, taking around an hour and a half, where the first numbered duck to cross the finish line will be awarded a prize of £10,000. 30 further prizes are offered by the event organizers and sponsors.  read more »

As Volunteers’ Week in the UK comes to a close, Mercy Ships, the is recognising the thousands of volunteers who have served on board its ships over the last 30 years, including hundreds of people from the UK.  read more »

Mercy Ships is celebrating International Nurses Day today (12th May) by extending a heartfelt thanks to the thousands of nurses who have volunteered onboard the ship over the last 30 years.

International Nurses Day is celebrated every year on the birth date of Florence Nightingale. It is a day to recognise and learn about the important work that nurses do and a day to celebrate worldwide the nursing profession.  read more »