Our Story

As the founder of MAD-Aid, Victoria Dunford was born and raised in Moldova, and has a firsthand understanding of the impact that any help to this country can have on its people. During her time working in the NHS, she observed the amount of furniture and equipment that was being disposed of each day, and she couldn’t help but think about how wonderful it would be for these items to end up in poorly equipped hospitals in Moldova, where rusty and wire beds were still commonplace. When she shared this idea with her friend John, he responded by saying, “If anyone can do it, it’s you.”

Without a second thought, Victoria began speaking to hospital, hospice, and other healthcare providers both in the UK and in Moldova, and within months, MAD-Aid was formed, with a board of five trustees. During their first delivery of hospital beds, wheelchairs, and other much-needed aid, Victoria and John were overwhelmed by the magnitude of the needs that they encountered. ohn even said, “It’s beyond our capabilities.” However, all of that changed when they met Alexandru, a boy who had received his first wheelchair at the age of nine, even though he was born with cerebral palsy. When Alexandru looked at them with his innocent eyes and said, “Thank you for my wheelchair – now I can see the trees outside, not just the leaves from my bedroom window,” Victoria and John knew that they had to keep going.

As John pointed out, they had a choice, but many of the people they were helping did not. They could not stop while they had the opportunity to make a difference. It didn’t matter if they were only able to help one Alexandru, or two or three – every single child deserved a chance at a better life.

Eleven years later, MAD-Aid is still going strong, having delivered over 1,200 wheelchairs and provided much-needed aid to people in isolation. They have also recycled tons of aid and even built a model complex that provides services to hundreds of disabled children each year. Many legislation were adoped or change during last few years in Moldova to help those in need.

Victoria stepped in and used all network across the globe and her logistical experience to help during covid in Uk and in Moldova.

Her language skills and logistics also proven handy to help thousands of Ukranian displaced people offering shelter from day one from war and aid in Moldova and Ukraine, and many services to those arriving in UK.

Although Victoria and John are still at the helm, they now have the support of seven trustees, a dedicated group of volunteers, ambasadors and small team.