Friends of Chernobyl's Children

Bob Jefferson · Post by **Bob Jefferson** » 18 May 2006, 06:29

Hello

I'm the local co-ordinator for the charity Friends of Chernobyl's Children. Let me tell you a little about this charity.

It was set up eleven years ago and now brings five hundred children each year for a four week stay with families in the UK. The children come from very poor families in Belarus. When in the UK we have their teeth and eyes tested and they sample some fresh air and 'clean' food for the first time. The ground where they grow their food and the air they breathe at home, will not be free of contamination for twenty-four thousand years! We also start them on a course of vitamins which will help kick start their immune system. The youngest children are about seven years old and once 'fostered' by the charity the child is brought back to the UK for four weeks each year until they are twelve. by making return visits, the benefits gained from their time in the UK make a real difference to their general health and well being, and hopefully their life expectancy.

The Portobello group are bringing twelve children here to spend September with us. One of the great things about them coming to visit us is that Belarus is a land locked country and the children will never have seen the sea before!

The charity's website is www.focc.org.uk

Several local businesses have already agreed to help. All help financial or otherwise is always welcome. All funds raised by us will be used by us! Except a small administration fee which contributes to the wages of two people who live in Belarus and help the children get ready to come here. (Â£250 per year).

Is there anything you can do to help? I realise I probably should have been in touch sooner but I'm new to this.

Regards

Susan Wright

Maria · Post by **Maria** » 09 Feb 2007, 18:27

I've just come across this thread while taking on Dadaist's challenge to trawl through the unanswered posts and am so annoyed. I had looked for it only last week and couldn't find it - for some reason it didn't come up on the search facility.

Last Saturday, there was a 'Nearly new' sale organised locally in aid of this charity. I had entered the details on the 'What's On' section of the website and intended to put them on this thread but couldn't find it, then got caught up in other things. I didn't even make it along to the fair itself last Sat morning as I was suffering a little from the excesses of last Fri night.

Hope it went well and lots of money was raised for this worthy cause.