Dunford Victoria

About

Victoria Dunford, founder and CEO of the MAD-Aid organization, has distinguished herself through her charitable work dedicated to people with special needs in northern Moldova. Born in Moldova, where she studied analytical chemistry, she temporarily emigrated to Great Britain for professional experience, settling there permanently after marrying John Dunford. Since 2013, together with her husband, she began sending medical equipment, wheelchairs, and hospital furniture, raising over 4 million lei and delivering hundreds of tons of aid, culminating in the establishment of the Phoenix Center in the Rîșcani district. Here, over 30 volunteers provide physiotherapy, speech therapy, sensory therapy, and social inclusion services for children from eight localities, transforming compassion into a sustainable social assistance system. Her achievements have been recognized at the highest level: in 2015 she received the Civic Medal from the President of the Republic of Moldova, and in 2017 the British Empire Medal from Queen Elizabeth II, becoming the first Moldovan woman to be honored with this award for her services to children with disabilities. Through MAD-Aid, which counts over 5,000 global donors, Victoria has reinvented social assistance, building bridges of solidarity between Great Britain and Moldova and promoting dignity and equal opportunities. She also published the book "Get MAD! The Life and Times of a Madwoman," the profits of which support the organization's causes, and her vision aims for a unique model center in Europe. Victoria's personal life is marked by her dedication to her mission, without having biological children, but caring for thousands of beneficiaries as her own, bringing not only material aid but also an attitude of respect and dignity. Her husband, John, is a constant partner in her efforts, and her Moldovan roots motivate her to constantly invest in her native community. Through her blog and interviews, she promotes values such as resilience and daily change, inspiring the diaspora and locals to contribute to a better future.