Children from an area of Belarus affected by the Chernobyl nuclear disaster are visiting the Island for a month long trip. The group of 15 children aged seven to twelve arrived on July 12 for the trip, which is organised by the Isle of Man branch of the Friends of Chernobyl’s Children (FOCC) charity. On July 15 they visited Manx Telecom’s headquarters where they were given free calls home so that they could tell their families about the first few days on the Island. Voirrey Barron, Manx Telecom Marketing Communications Manager, said:
“Manx Telecom has been supporting the FOCC Isle of Man programme since the children first visited the Island 14 years ago. As always we are only too happy to play a part in helping the children enjoy their trip and to support FOCC Isle of Man which organises this magnificent initiative.”
The children have a packed programme of activities planned before they return home on August 9 including visits to Manx National Heritage sites, the Gaiety Theatre, cinema, and trips to go swimming and horse-riding. Norman Rivers, Chairman of FOCC Isle of Man, thanked all of the many organisations and individuals across the Island which provide help and support for the children during their visit. He said:
“The generosity of the Isle of Man community never ceases to amaze me; it really is second to none. Over 70% of the radioactive fallout from Chernobyl fell onto the population of Belarus resulting in 800,000 children being at a high risk of contracting cancer or leukaemia. Cattle still graze on contaminated land thus causing the population to be continuously exposed to radiation via the food chain, and scientists say that it will be 24,000 years before the affected land is free of contamination. The children see their visit as a holiday – which it is – but living and breathing in a clean, uncontaminated environment for a month, gives them important health benefits too.”
The Chernobyl disaster happened in April 1986 when the nuclear power station’s reactor overheated and caused an explosion. Radiation released into the atmosphere was at levels at least 100 times greater than that from the atom bombs dropped on Nagasaki and Hiroshima. Doctors say that one of the most damaging effects on children caused by radioactive fallout is that it impairs their immune system – and the more time that children spend in an uncontaminated environment the more their immune system is able to recover. The FOCC also provides a 12 month supply of vitamins and any essential medicines, clothes, and food for both the children and their families in order to maintain the benefits of their visit throughout the year. It has been proven that care of this nature substantially boosts the children's shattered immune systems and enables them to enjoy a healthier, fuller and longer life. For more information about FOCC go to www.focc.org.uk
Photo - Children from Belarus at Manx Telecom’s headquarters, Isle of Man Business Park, where they were able to phone their families as part of a trip to the Island organised by the Isle of Man branch of the Friends of Chernobyl’s Children (FOCC) charity. At the front on the right is Celeste Green from Manx Telecom who was presented with a thank you card by Diana Astapenka. Two interpreters accompanied the children – at the back on the left is Olga Sapunova, and on the right is Viktor Ukhvanov.
