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Visit to South Ribble for Chernobyl children

SOUTH Ribble Borough Council has teamed up with UKregistered charity 'Medicine and Chernobyl' to help give a holiday of a lifetime to 14 Belarusian children.

Medicine and Chernobyl is a charity organised by volunteer groups to help the people of Belarus cope with the fallout from the Chernobyl nuclear power station disaster, which devastated their country leaving more than two million people, including thousands of children, living in areas contaminated with radiation.

Belarus received around 70% of the radioactive fallout caused by the explosion in April 1986. Since the disaster, childhood cancer of the thyroid has increased dramatically and many young children suffer from stomach disorders or are born with genetic disorders as a consequence of their parents being exposed to dangerous levels of radiation.

Medicine and Chernobyl considers its primary task is to help the children of the contaminated areas. Investigations have shown that a child taken on holiday for one month over the summer suffers fewer illnesses throughout the winter. Human radioactivity is reduced or in some cases eliminated after holidays away.

So this month, children from the area are staying with families in South Ribble who have volunteered to help them enjoy a British holiday as part of which they'll take part in a wide range of local and regional outings and activities.

The Mayor of South Ribble, Councillor Kath Beattie, invited the youngsters to spend a day with her and the council's Park Rangers at WordenPark.

After breakfast with the Mayor in the Worden Arts Centre, the group enjoyed getting lost in the Worden Park maze, going for a woodland wander with Paul Crighton, the Head Park Ranger, following which they finished their day out with a ride on the Worden Park miniature train.

Councillor David Suthers, cabinet member with responsibility for Leisure and Cultural services, said:

"I welcome these children to South Ribbleand hope they enjoy their time here. There's a lot to see and do in our beautiful borough and I'm sure these youngsters will be impressed with what they find. We have a range of award winning parks to choose from, plenty of playgrounds, including our brand new play facility in Bamber Bridge, good leisure centres and sports facilities. I'm sure they will find plenty to do to keep themselves entertained."

He added: "I would like to thank the volunteers in South Ribble who have agreed to have the children stay with them for a month. Without the kindness shown by these residents initiatives like these would not be possible."

Last updated: 13 July 2007

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