Chernobyl's youths are given a lifeline (From Warrington Guardian)

Chernobyl's youths are given a lifeline

BELARUSIAN youngsters have been having fun in Warrington this summer, thanks to the efforts of Burtonwood and Warrington's Chernobyl Children Lifeline charity.

Youngsters from Mogilev have been staying with host families in Warrington for the past four weeks.

Colin Frodsham, the charity's chairman, said: "The main reason for the visit was to improve the children's health.

"The background radiation levels in Mogilev are nine times higher than over here. To be able to come and breathe fresh air and eat plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables increases their life expectancy."

In 1986, Chernobyl's nuclear reactor exploded, releasing enormous amounts of radiation, 70 per cent of which fell in Belarus.

Mr Frodsham said: "The death rate is now higher than the birth rate and so many houses had to be demolished. The cemetery is all that remains of many villages."

Mogilev, which was established in 1267, is one of the oldest towns in Belarus.

In June, Mr Frodsham and three other committee members returned from a visit to the town where they met the youngsters, four boys and eight girls, who had been chosen to visit Warrington.

He said: "We stayed with families of the children, whose hospitality was incredible.

"We would have been happy to book into a hotel but they wouldn't hear of it and insisted on giving us their beds to sleep in, while they slept on settees.

"The school chooses which children will visit but they are always aged between 11 and 13 and must never have been abroad before."

The group fundraises all year because it costs £350 for each child who visits Warrington.

To find out more, contact Mr Frodsham on 221614 or Frank Rose on 724957.