Epsom, Ashtead and Banstead families needed to help Chernobyl children

3:30pm Wednesday 7th January 2009

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A recruiting drive is already under way to find families who can give children from Chernobyl a life-saving boost this summer.

Since its formation six years ago the Mid Surrey Link of the Chernobyl Children Lifeline charity has brought more than 115 children to the area for a holiday to get away from the contaminated atmosphere caused by the nuclear explosion more than 20 years ago.

A four-week break from radiation, eating uncontaminated food and breathing clean air, is believed to increase the children’s life expectancy by giving their immune systems a chance to recover.

The children who will be visiting the Epsom, Ashtead and Banstead area in the summer will be around 10 years old and will stay in pairs with local hosts who are supported by volunteers.

They will travel in groups accompanied by a Belarusian leader.

All the children visit the dentist and optician during their stay and are provided with any treatment they need. The visitors participate in a programme of activities that enables them to get together and enjoy outings to London, the seaside, Legoland, horse riding and swimming.

This year’s visit will run from Friday July 17 to Friday August 14 and the search is on for families who can offer hospitality either for two weeks or for the whole four weeks or who could volunteer to help out.

An information evening will be held at 8pm on Thursday February 5 at St George’s Christian Centre hall, Oakfield Road, Ashtead.

For further information visit www.midsurreylink.org, or call 01372 741 228.