A woman who used to live in Formby abandons her holiday to help refugees

Niamh McGarry-Gribbin and civil partner Stephanie have turned their holiday into a humanitarian mission to help those in need.

A nurse's holiday on the Greek paradise of Kos has turned into a heartbreaking humanitarian mission to help Syrian refugees.

Niamh McGarry-Gribbin, 46, who lived in Formby for many years and went to Our Lady's and Holy Family, was on a last minute break with her civil partner Stephanie, 48, a Chorlton stonemason, when they took a trip into the old town.

And what they saw - a snapshot of the biggest migration crisis in living memory - has transformed their holiday from relaxation to rescue.

The couple from Whitefield have now ditched their holiday and are buying supplies and taking them directly to the refugees. They are buying supplies for thousands of families who have risked their lives sailing over from war-torn Syria.

Stephanie and Niamh McGarry-Gribbin abandoned their holiday to help the refugees

And they are also on a fundraising mission to get them more bottled water, fresh fruit, food, toiletries and sanitary products.

They plan to spend every remaining day of their two-week holiday helping them.

Niamh, a nurse for 27 years who works full-time campaigning for the elderly, told the M.E.N: “We came into Kos as tourists and were faced with all these refugees, women and children.

“It’s heartbreaking seeing hundreds of them.

“Nobody is begging or harassing tourists, they are just living peacefully in the open air. Some are lucky to have tents.

“On the first day we saw them I tried to give two mothers surrounded by children some money but she refused so we think buying supplies is the only way to help.”

Among those the veteran nurse met were tragic 15-year-old girl Waad, who travelled over from Syria on a dinghy after her mother, father and family were killed.

Speaking from the Greek island, NHS nurse Niam said: “They need food, water and clothing. I met a mother who is running out of powder milk for her baby.

“It’s scorching hot, there are two portaloos that stink to high heaven, there is access to a hose near the old town but the women can’t wash in the open air.

“There is no proper sanitation and I don’t know how they are getting fed.”

She added: “Every day there are queues at the local police station to register them - one officer said it would take three months to get through everyone.”

The pair arrived for a two-week holiday last Thursday but started helping just three days in when they hired a car and got to the old town.

The grandmother of one added: “We will come back every day with supplies

She added: “I want to stay on here and continue to help but financially we have to go home.

“But we hope to continue to raise money and we are trying to set up a contact here to carrying on delivering aid.”

And Niamh says being able to help is worth giving up their holiday.

She added: “At the end of the day compared to these people I live a life of luxury with a roof over my head, food and water.

“We just couldn’t sit by and do nothing with a bottle of ouzo by the pool - we can do that any time - at least while we’re here we can do something to help in our own little way.”

The couple are not the only ones helping - Niamh said she has seen other tourists handing out food and one little boy handing over his sweets to a young refugee.

The 11 Syrians who died off the Kos coast on Wednesday are among 2,500 who have died this year alone while trying to cross the sea to flee violence, oppression and persecution.

Most hope to be transported to northern Greece and travel towards Hungary, Europe’s only border that is not policed.

To donate go to kosdonate.weebly.com