A WOMAN has made a heartfelt plea for people to help her quest to save tortured moon bears in China from a life of cruelty.
Vivienne Jones is the sole representative of the Kidderminster branch of China Bear Rescue and said she needs "fresh ideas" to give her fund-raising techniques a boost.
The national charity aims to rescue thousands of rare moon bears kept in captive conditions for their bile, which is milked and used for medicinal purposes.
Mrs Jones, 63, of Kidderminster's Longfellow Green, said she was campaigning for the animals' release because herbal alternatives exist for the treatment of liver complaints and gallstones.
"They're just kept in these terrible conditions in cages for their bile but there is an alternative so it's unnecessary," she said.
"I'm trying to collect as much as I can but I want people to help me and to raise awareness as much as possible."
She added the charity aimed for all the bears to be released in time for the Beijing Games in 2008 and a collection in Bewdley last Saturday raised £203.45.
"People come up to me and say what a wonderful job I'm doing," said Mrs Jones.
More information can be obtained by contacting Mrs Jones on 01562 746539.
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