The money will be used to buy boats for the men and their families whose livelihoods were taken during 2004's Asian tsunami.

Mr Craw will visit the Indian city of Vijayawada in January to undertake missionary work with the director of the Good News Ministry, the Rev Chanti Raju. He hopes to find out about the ongoing work of the ministry in providing fresh-water bore-wells to villagers, care and education to over 70 orphans and the continuing efforts to establish churches in the area.

In an earlier interview, Mr Craw said: "It's the first time I've been abroad in this kind of environment, but I'm looking forward to the experience. During the tsunami a lot of folk lost their livelihoods and many of them still haven't got boats. The Good News Ministry has been trying to get boats to help them and have had a few donated in the past."

As well as buy fishing boats, Mr Craw hopes to have enough money to provide school uniforms for orphans and financial assistance for the Good News Ministry's outreach programmes. While there, Mr Craw will help conduct various church leaders' seminars for around 300 people and be involved with the organisation's evangelical meetings. Accompanying him will be David Scadding, a keen fisherman from Latheron. Mr Craw said: "David has travelled around the UK on numerous occasions by boat. His enthusiasm for fishing is overwhelming and I know this experience, for both David and the fishermen, will be very helpful in more ways than one."

Mr Craw is still collecting sponsorship and donations. Anyone who would like to donate can telephone 01593 741779 or write to him at Craiglockhart, Latheronwheel, KW5 6DW.

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