Olwyn Keogh, the Charity Founder and Chief Executive of 'Friends of Chernobyl's Children' was the speaker at the July meeting of Preston and District U3A (The University of the Third Age).
At the start a short video was shown to illustrate the scale of the tragedy at Chernobyl; the reactor at the Power Station overheated, exploded and deadly cloud blew over the Republic of Belarus in April 1996, resulting in a fall out of intense radioactivity (three hundred times greater than at Hiroshima).
Being such a poor country it was unable to deal with such high levels of radiation.
Most of the population remained, living in high rise flats or tin shacks where they were slowly poisoned by the vegetation and the water, resulting in physical and mental disabilities.
Many still suffer from stomach, bowel, thyroid and gynaecological problems.
Children, born without arms and legs and with other disabilities are often abandoned by their parents in hospitals.
Olwyn then spoke about her response to an appeal on Red Rose Radio by offering to house and care for two or fourteen children coming to Preston from the stricken area for a month.
Seeing how well they thrived, she then decided to set up the FOCC charity in 1995.
It has been medically proven that bringing children out of that area for a month, to where they eat healthy food and breathe clean air, helps them live longer.
Each year for four years a group of fourteen, under privileged six to twelve year old children and two interpreters come from Belarus to stay with families for a holiday as well as getting them checked by doctors, dentists, opticians etc.
Trips and activities are arranged for each group every day.
Each child is also provieded with a year's supply of vitamins and drugs according to their medical needs.
From small beginnings there are now thirty four groups throughout the country, who organise these annual visits.
The whole project, including money raised, relies entirely on volunteers from societies, clubs, churches and schools to run the charity.
The next meeting is on Thursday, September 18th at 2:00pm at St. Cuthbert's Church Centre.
The speaker, David Hindle, will talk about 'From Gin Palace to King's Palace' (A history of the Music Hall in Preston).
Admission is £1.00.
Anyone retired or nearing retirement is very welcome to join us.
Further information - 01772-791940 or 01772-795807.
- Call 01772 838104
- Fax 01772 880173
- Email yoursay@lep.co.uk
- Or write to: Community Reporter, Lancashire Evening Post Ltd, Oliver's Place, Fulwood, Preston, PR2 9ZA
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