Photo Credit Ruben Plomp, The Africa Mercy in Tamatave, MadagascarPhoto Credit Ruben Plomp, The Africa Mercy in Tamatave, Madagascar
Midwestern

Moorefield Carpenter Boards World's Largest Charity Ship

A carpenter from Moorefield is getting set to embark on a ten-month long journey on a charity hospital ship.

Toby Grigat will be among 450 other volunteers on the Africa Mercy, which will be docked outside of a city on Madagascar's eastern coast.

Although the 39-year-old isn't sure exactly what he will be doing, he knows he will be the ship's carpenter.

"A carpenter would fix whatever needs to be fixed," Grigat tells CKNX News. "Beds, portholes, or whatever. Basically, I'm going to be the 'Mr. Fix It' guy."

The 152-metre long vessel provides dental and medical clinics on board while also lending construction and agricultural training to locals.

Grigat is set to leave in October. He will return June 2016.

"I've been away from home for three months at a time, and I thought that was really long," Grigat says jokingly.

More on the ship can be found here.

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