A FAMILY is opting for a rather different family holiday in the New Year, by spending two weeks on board the world’s largest floating hospital in West Africa.

Dr Leo Cheng, his wife, Hilary Cheng, and their two daughters, Kat and Zoe Cheng, from Chingford, are returning to their “second home” on board the Africa Mercy, a floating hospital docked in Benin.

This will be the 14th visit to the Africa Mercy for Dr Cheng, a surgeon at St Bartholomew’s, The Royal London and Homerton Hospitals.

However it will be the second time the Cheng’s have volunteered for Mercy Ships as a family.

Mercy Ships docks in some of the poorest countries in Africa to offer free healthcare and humanitarian aid.

Since the charity’s creation in 1978, Mercy Ships has treated more than 2.56 million people.

While volunteering on the ship, Dr Cheng will perform up to three surgeries a day, often on patients who have never received any kind of healthcare.

His patients are children and adults suffering from large thyroid, head and neck tumours, and serious wounds.

Mrs Cheng will be serving as a Chaplain for the patients on board, while Kat will be serving as a nurse, with Zoe working in hospitality.

Dr Cheng said: “When we deliver hope and healing to those desperate patients and their loved ones, we also receive far more through the grace, patience and gratitude from those we serve.

Dr Cheng’s daughter, Kat, added: “Returning to the Africa Mercy is like going to my second home.

“Now I am further on in my nursing career, I have a greater understanding and appreciation for the life changing care delivered by each and every volunteer on board.

“I strive to make a positive difference to the lives of those I meet in Benin.”