Join virtual ‘getaway’ to help young victims of disaster at Chernobyl
MONDAY marked the 35th anniversary of the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster – and its calamitous effects are still being felt, especially in the Republic of Belarus.
Even today, more than average numbers of children are born with genetic disorders or afflictions and, in some cases, cancer as a result of their parents’ exposure to radiation.
For many years, the Stoke and Endon group of the Chernobyl Children’s Project have invited groups of children over to the UK for recuperative holidays.
Many young people and their carers have enjoyed the fresh air of the Staffordshire Moorlands, which gives a boost to damaged immune systems and is mentally beneficial. Visitors have stayed with host families in the area, but due to Covid-19, this cannot happen this year.
However, the charity is still very involved with various projects in Belarus to raise the level of opportunities for many disabled and sometimes seriously ill children.
These include setting up small ‘family’ homes, hospice care, enabling the return of disabled children to live with their families, support for carers and training of
professionals, who are often invited to visit and learn here in the UK.
To mark the 35th anniversary of the disaster, the charity is inviting people to joining a virtual fundraising challenge called Escape from Chernobyl.
A 2,665-mile route has been set up from Chernobyl to the UK through 10 countries and passing 15 checkpoints where your virtual passport is stamped and information is provided, with interesting and sometimes bizarre facts about the route that has just been covered.
People can participate individually or as a team of any age and ability.
Participants choose whether to walk, cycle, use ar wheelchair, or any other means of transport that adds miles to the team effort.
The collective miles are then logged in on the website, and you can follow your team’s progress on a map of Europe.
The challenge can start at any time, but it needs to be finished by April 25, 2022, before the next anniversary, so teams taking a “long run” at the challenge would need to complete about 50 miles a week between them.
Chernobyl Children’s Project publicity officer Suzan Kerridge, said: “With a bit of imagination, you will feel like you have been on a fantastic trip through Europe, while getting out, keeping more fit and stimulating your team’s participants to go that extra mile!
“The organisation is still very actively involved in projects in Belarus to improve the quality of the lives of children and young adults that suffer from numerous diseases and disabilities caused by the ongoing consequences of the nuclear fallout 35 years ago.
“Pre-covid, our local Stoke and Endon group would host teenagers, or very young children with their mums, in the homes families.
“Recently, CCP has had additional support for its work from the British and US Embassies in the Belarus capital, Minsk, as well as Unicef.
“The virtual challenge has been set up, both to make people more aware of the ongoing effects of the Chernobyl disaster and as a way to raise much-needed funds for the projects in Belarus.”
The entry fee is £10 for adults and £8 for children. For more information about joining the Escape from Chernobyl challenge, visit evententry.co.uk. of local