Brave Jo Pollard, whose husband Michael was killed during an aid mission to eastern Europe last year, was en route to Latvia today with a consignment of medical supplies.

Mrs Pollard, 56, who was badly injured herself when she and her church pastor husband were attacked by robbers in Hungary, is travelling with members of the Doncaster-based Aid to the Baltic Communities group.

They are taking out medical equipment and supplies to Latvia and its neighbour, Lithuania, using a van owned by the Shipley-based aid charity Jubilee Outreach Yorkshire (JOY).

Apart from travelling back to Hungary for the trial of the three men responsible for her husband's death - they were jailed for a total of 24 years between them earlier - the trip marks Mrs Pollard's first aid visit to eastern Europe since last August's tragedy.

Mrs Pollard, who set off last night, said: "Some people might wonder why I'm going back but we'd been involved with eastern Europe for 29 years. It's in the blood and I want to get back into it.

"If it had been Michael who'd survived and not me he'd have been going back - I know what happened wouldn't have broken his spirit and it hasn't broken mine.

"There's obviously a certain amount of apprehension and I wouldn't have been happy or felt safe going on my own but felt this would be a good opportunity as it's a short trip and I'll be with other people."

The mother of three, who is also planning a trip to her native New Zealand in the autumn, added: "I'm really excited about going because Michael and I went to Latvia and Lithuania a couple of years ago, really enjoyed it and wanted to go back but didn't have time last year.

"We know a lot of people out there and to never see them again would have just been terrible."

The week-long trip to the Baltic states - part of the former Soviet Union - will include visits to an orphanage, a mother and baby home and a refuge for street children as well as a young offenders institute.

Mrs Pollard is hoping to see Riga-based Baptist minister Joseph Bondarenko, who stayed at her home in Baildon last week during a visit to build up links between churches in this country and Christians in Siberia where he has done missionary work.

She is also hoping to visit Riga's Christian radio station and establish a link between the city's Christian school and Bradford.

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