Linda McDonald always dreamed of having property abroad but when she jetted off to Bulgaria to look at holiday homes she wasn't prepared for what she saw there.

Visiting an orphanage, Linda saw the awful conditions the children had to live in and decided she had to do something to help.

She told Sunday Life how she has finally found her true calling — helping Bulgarian orphans have a better life.

Travelling to Bulgaria with her husband Richard, Linda was excited at the prospect of buying a home abroad.

"It was a totally selfish reason to visit Bulgaria — but it was something I thought I wanted," she said.

Then Linda's interpreter took her to see one of Bulgaria's children's orphanages.

She said: "When we first arrived Elvira, a Russian girl who interpreted for us, took us to an orphanage. What I saw there was very emotional and then and there I decided I couldn't walk away from this. I am not a very religious person but sometimes in your heart you know that you have to do something."

Linda decided to set up a foundation to help the underprivileged kids. With the full support of her husband, the Linda McDonald Foundation was born. When she returned home she started collecting clothes to bring to Bulgaria for the children.

"We started off by taking suitcases filled with anything we could think of," she said. "It cost us an arm and a leg to pay excess luggage each time we went but it was worth every penny."

The children had such an affect on Linda she threw herself into the foundation. "It has had a big impact on me. Every time I buy something, every single moment, I think about those children.

"I'll never be the same again. Every time I go shopping, I always spend a fiver on them.

"They really appreciate what you do for them."

But while Linda was doing everything she could to make the children's lives better by bringing clothes and food, there were other problems to consider.

DIFFICULT

She said: "About 10-15 per cent of the children have no paperwork. That means that legally they don't exist. I am officially a legal guardian of five so far."

Even though she gives what she can, Linda still finds it difficult to see these children living in extreme poverty.

"I cannot cope with the fact that those children are in orphanages, and these are the luckier ones," she said.

"Some in the more touristy areas are being sold off on street corners. I find that extremely difficult, particularly if you have children of your own." Linda has built relationships with the orphans and the amount of trust they put in her is enormous. This huge load is something many would find difficult to cope with.

"Every time they say: 'I know that you will help me Linda,' I have to sit down and take a few moments to get over it," she revealed. " Every time I go to Bulgaria, I buy the children fruit from a local market because I know they don't get fruit very often, and they are always so willing to share. That's a biggie.

"They usually wait for us at the gates from early morning until we get there. Then they want to hold us and they won't leave us.

"It's very emotional but it's just children being children. It's not just about donating and sending stuff, it's about being there. To me that's what it's all about. Children are children, no matter where they come from."

But Linda couldn't do it alone. Her family fully support her work in Bulgaria.

She said: "It would not be possible to do this without my family, my 13-year old son and two older daughters, my husband and also all the kind people who donate what they can.

"My husband is the one who travels the length and the breadth of the country to collect what people have donated.

"I'm only the figure that those children see because I deliver all the goodies and actually take the credit. But all has been achieved solely as a result of the kindness and generosity of the Northern Irish people.

THANKFULNESS

"If I could just bottle the joy and thankfulness of the children and bring it home I would, and everyone would feel as I do. Imagine what it must feel like to know that you have two sets of underwear that belong just to you, and for the staff to know that they have enough nappies for the babies. That's the difference we are making and it is wonderful that this is done through donations from people."

In January of last year Richard came up with the idea to hire a van and collect donations to send to Bulgaria. The word got out and soon the McDonalds were flooded with donations. When they arrived in Bulgaria last summer the load was divided up between two orphanages.

"It made such a difference to those people's lives," said Linda.

"They are much happier and the staff are much more forthcoming, they are always are happy to see us."

Linda is determined to continue the work of the foundation and she hopes to retire to Bulgaria eventually.

"If there is a need, we respond to it," she said. "We also want to help the people in the surrounding villages. We're planning to set up a community centre and have made arrangements with the local authorities who luckily have been very responsive.

"There are very few places where the kids can go and play and such a place will keep the community together.

"My feeling are always the same to know that I have the privilege of seeing the happiness on the faces of the children. I plan to retire to Bulgaria once I get my children to university, which will be four to five years.

"I will be close to the orphanage and able to help on a day to day basis."

l For more information on the Linda McDonald Foundation or to make a donation visit www.lindamcdonaldfoundation.org or contact Linda on 07515 894299.