Chernobyl link marked 30 years after disaster hit
Stirling families are marking the 30th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster with a fundraising event this weekend.
A gala dinner and fundraising activities are being held in the Colessio Hotel on Saturday evening.
The Chernobyl disaster on April 26 1986, in the then Soviet Union, was the worst nuclear power plant accident in history in terms of cost and casualties. Thirty years on, the area is still suffering health, economic and environmental repercussions.
However, families in Stirling are among those who have since tried to help those affected. Stirling supporter Gail Macdonald said: “My family are a host family for the Chernobyl Children’s Lifeline charity. This means that we take children to our home from Ukraine or Belarus once a year for a one-month health recuperation holiday.
“This enables them to breath clean air, eat clean food, drink clean water, exercise and have health checks, at the dentist and the opticians. Research has proven coming to UK for one month can extend these childrens lives’ by as much as two years. It will take 1000 years and five generations for the radiation to move out of the genetics, the food chain and atmosphere. When the children are here with us radiation cannot be passed on to our families.”
The children who come to Stirling area normally between the ages of eight and 12. Research shows that, due to raised growth hormone levels, it is normally at puberty they can develop some of the worst illnesses such as thyroid cancer, bone cancer, diabetes and leukaemia.
Gail added: “Last year we had two girls, Nastya and Katya from Ukraine. They live in a town 25km away from Chernobyl called Boridyanko. Katya’s dad sent us pictures of himself fishing. The river he fishes goes right through the abandoned Chernobyl plant so the water and the fish that they are eating are contaminated. Nastya’s family sent photographs of her and her mum swimming in the same river. The girls were very happy, bright and very well mannered.
“Whilst they are here the group go on lots of Scottish cultural trips like Stirling Castle, Scottish Parliament and the Wallace monument, as well as fun things like boat trips, park visits and the ever-popular soft play. Our group usually consists of 10/12 children who come to live with host families. We do have to fund this trip by ourselves. At a cost of approximately £600 per child, plus a teacher/ translator. This is a big call for a small group such as ours.”
Call Gail on 07702 806640.