A TABLEY fundraiser is on a mission to help raise cash for a centre set up in the aftermath of the IRA bomb that hit Warrington almost 20 years ago.

THE Peace Centre has helped put back together many lives that have been ripped apart by terrorism in the last 12 years.

But new community fundraiser Pam White, who has been a victim herself, is now hoping to raise enough cash to ensure the centre can go on doing its good work.

The former police officer was attempting to clear Harrods in London when an IRA car bomb exploded killing five people at the scene and injuring 90 in December 1983.

Among the dead were two police officers including a colleague who was stood alongside Pam.

Despite support from the police, she had to leave her job as a result and turned to the Peace Centre for help starting on their story-telling residential programme hearing the experiences of others in similar situations.

The 53-year-old from Tabley said: “It’s benefited me an awful lot and helped me to move on and offer support to other people which is why I wanted to work here.

“I wanted the voices of survivors to be heard against terrorism.

“It took me a long time to get over what happened and I felt a lot of anger.

“Nobody was prosecuted for it and I lost my career as a result and my confidence which didn’t seem fair.

“It was a really tough time and it took me 18 years to say I forgave them in the hope of building peace.

“The sole purpose of that bomb was to lure police officers to their death and sadly they didn’t see the person behind the uniform.”

Pam has trained to be a peer support worker and spoken at many international conferences but will now be working hard to raise £600,000 each year to provide free courses to veterans, emergency personnel and people affected by bombings including London, Manchester, Sharm el-Sheikh and Bali.

To help her, volunteers are needed for a fundraising bag pack at Asda Westbrook on December 22.

A Christmas fair will also take place at the centre on Peace Drive on December 1 from 10am to 5pm with Father Christmas, real reindeers and a variety of stalls.

Anyone who wants a stall or can volunteer fundraising help should call 581229 or e-mail pam.white@foundation4peace.org.