A GRANDFATHER who has devoted the last eight years raising money to drill wells at schools in Tanzania in memory of his wife is returning to the country this week.

Jim O’Connor, from Esh Village in Durham, has raised more than half a million pounds – enough to drill 18 wells – in memory of his wife Dorothy, who died of breast cancer in 2006, aged 56.

He is returning to Tanzania tomorrow with a team of eight people to open four new deep solar-powered wells at schools in the country.

He said: “I didn’t intend to do this, I only intended to do one eight years ago. But when you go out and see the difference it makes and how easy it is it changes.

“When you set away and drill down the water is there, but they can’t get to it without equipment.”

This year Mr O’Connor, who is now retired, will be joined by a local businessman and his wife, who donated the £25,000 needed for a new well, and family, who also donated £25,000 in memory of a wife and mother, who died of breast cancer.

He is also taking three suitcases, stuffed with around 800 beanie hats and hundreds of pens and pencils to give out to children at the schools.

The 69-year-old said: “They absolutely love beanie hats so I’ve had knit and natter groups making them and I’ve got about 800 to take over.

“When you see the children sitting three to a bench with one pen to share between them it sticks with you so I’m always saving pens and pencils to take out.”

Mr O’Connor founded his Dorothy’s Well Project Tanzania eight years ago after being inspired to something in memory of his wife, who was a nurse.

He first visited Tanzania in 2008 after being invited to accompany a trip by primary schools from the area and decided to do something after meeting the children there and seeing them drink from dirty streams.

He said: “It was a long flight back and I had time to think and I was feeling a bit guilty so I made a promise I would go back one day and drill a well.”

He added: “It’s amazing how people are really do get inspired.

“I am constantly moved by the generosity of spirit of people across the North East who continue to support Dorothy’s Well Project Tanzania.

“Donations come in many forms and amounts and I greatly value each and every one.

“It is a great privilege for me to meet the people who give so generously and allow the charity to continue to provide life giving water to those in greatest need”.

To find out more about the charity visit www.dorothyswells.org