Sir; I just wondered if your readers know that this year there's a national campaign going on to recruit 7,000 new foster carers? My wife and I have been fostering for 10 years. She does most of the day to day care while I run our grocery business, but I get to spend time with the children during the evenings and weekends. We've had 17 children join our family. Most children we foster go home to their own families. Some of them have been with us for just a few weeks, but a few have stayed several years. Fostering is definitely a challenge. Some of the children have had very difficult lives. You often need a lot of patience to help them get back on to their feet. You come across a whole range of different situations. We've looked after a child with Down's Syndrome as well as children who have been neglected and abused. Fortunately there is lots of training and support available and it's amazing how you learn to cope with different situations. Sometimes it's hard watching children go home to their own parents but you know this is what the children really want to do. I would encourage other people to think about fostering. There are a lot of rewards. It doesn't matter whether you've had children of your own or whether you're married or single. You just have to enjoy being with kids and be very committed to their needs. Anyone who wants to find out more should ring the Fostering Network freephone number on 0800 0965 985, or log onto the website at www/fosteringnetwork.co.uk. Michael Holmes Sowerbey Halifax {{LETTERS }}