Kentish Express Ashford & District
Firefighters’ treat for Chernobyl children
jscott@thekmgroup.co.uk Around 14 children from the town Koreston in the Ukraine visited the crews at Ashford fire station earlier this month.
The group, from the areas most affected by the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster, were taken on a tour of the station on Saturday, July 13.
The children, aged 10 to 16, took part in a variety of activities planned by The Chernobyl Children’s Lifeline charity.
It was the sixth year that the fire station has hosted visits by the charity. Green watch manager Clive Douglas, who oversaw the visit, said: “Many of these children come from very deprived areas so we hope we added a bit of fun and enjoyment to their stay in Kent.
“We always want them to really enjoy their time with us as well as learning about the work of a firefighter so, as part of the tour, firefighters have arranged to provide each child with a life- saving smoke alarm that will be fitted and maintained by fire and rescue crews in the Ukraine – it could end up saving their life in the event of a fire.”
Hundreds of children who live around Chernobyl are still diagnosed with leukaemia, bone and thyroid cancer as a result of the nuclear disaster each year.
The Chernobyl Children’s Lifeline charity brings over 4,000 children to the UK every year to give them a rest from radiation and can extend their lives by up to two years.
Charity spokesman Sarah Day said: “This is the fifth year that the charity has brought a group of children to the Ashford area and we are especially grateful to Kent Fire and Rescue Service for offering us a tour of the fire station.
“The children had a wonderful time and were made really welcome by the crews.”
Anyone interested in hosting a child during the next visit can call the lifeline charity on 01233 336459