Chernobyl Children’s Lifeline
Thirty-five years ago, on April 26th 1986 at 1.23am, Reactor 4 at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Station exploded. As a consequence of the explosion, radioactive elements fell across Belarus and the Ukraine with the fallout continuing to affect the people of these countries for hundreds, if not thousands, of years. Our charity, the Chernobyl Children’s Lifeline, was established and registered in 1992 by the late Victor Mizzi OBE to support children and their families from Belarus and Ukraine, forever affected by the world's worst nuclear disaster. The radioactive fallout from the Chernobyl nuclear explosion has caused numerous and varying health issues for the population which will last through generations to come. As well as thyroid cancer, bone cancer, leukaemia, and other non-oncological conditions, many people continue to experience severe psychological distress directly linked to the effects of Chernobyl. This in turn often causes medical conditions which can then develop to become serious and even life threatening.
The main aims of our charity are:
To bring child victims of the Chernobyl disaster to the UK for recuperative breaks of up to four weeks - close to 50,000 children and young adults have benefitted from staying with host families since our inception in 1992.
To provide on-going supplies of multi-vitamins and basic healthcare products, school uniforms, stationery, learning aids, special needs items, clothing, shoes and toiletries to the children on their return.
To work with our Belarusian and Ukrainian partners to locate children who will benefit from a recuperative care break.
To help children too sick to travel by providing chemotherapy medicines to Children’s Cancer Hospitals in Minsk, Gomel, Mogilov and Brest regions, support with medicines and equipment for Baby Home No 1 in Minsk, assist numerous social centres (temporary foster care facilities), individual foster families, and centres for children with special needs as well as several orphanages.
The Chernobyl Children’s Lifeline’s reason for being is not for the relief of poverty or to provide holidays for poor children. It exists because of the difference we can make to the lives of children growing up with the long-term health effects of the Chernobyl disaster, which no amount of money can correct. Only time will see the end of the contamination and this is time these children do not have. All these children are affected regardless of whether they have satellite TV and a flushing toilet or a cow in the back garden and an earth closet.
During a recent visit to the cancer hospital for children in Minsk, a psychologist told us: “ALL children, regardless of race, social background or education, that live in contaminated areas, deserve the opportunity for a respite break. You would not believe the difference when they return home. Their health is so much improved; it is wonderful to see.”
While the children live at home, they are constantly eating contaminated food - and caesium or other radioactive elements may be building up in their bodies. They are all at high risk of developing cancer, heart disease, or serious respiratory or digestive problems. The time they spend with a host family in the UK may help to prevent this by boosting their immune system and reducing the levels of contaminates in their system. They are not infectious in any way and no child is allowed to travel without a certificate of good health.
How can you get involved?
So, do you think you could join us? There are so many ways to become involved with Chernobyl Children’s Lifeline - you could offer to be a host family (if you have a spare room) or to support us with our fundraising efforts, so we can offer this opportunity to as many children as possible. It’s a great thing to do and extremely rewarding; you will join a fabulous group of like-minded people.
We have a number of Lifeline links (local groups) within the Westcountry, including mid-Devon. If you are considering getting involved, there are many opportunities:
Become a host family, hosting a child for two to four weeks in 2022
Make items we can sell or help on our stalls at events (when safe to do this again)
Help fundraise: take part in a sponsored run, walk or swim
Take part in New Year’s Day dips, virtual balloon races and pet competitions
Please contact us by email at Belarusness@hotmail.co.uk or call Vanessa on 07706 972906 – she will be only too happy to explain in more detail what we do and what you can expect. We look forward to meeting you!