CHILDREN who were once regarded as objects of shame by their own families are being offered new hope by a Sale couple.

Muriel and Geoff Chad are building a rehabilitation centre for youngsters with cerebral palsy in the former Soviet republic of Kazakhstan.

Muriel, a qualified physiotherapist, says life is grim for sufferers of the condition, who are either dumped in orphanages or kept at home by parents embarrassed by the stigma surrounding their disability.

She adds there is no proper medical treatment available for children with this handicap and only the mild cases get to go to special school.

The couple initally went to the country to work at a centre run by a charity called Equip Trust.

Their inital role was to teach English to the locals and the school caters for around 2,000 adults and young people. They packed their bags two years ago after Geoff was released from his job as pastor at Sale Baptist Church.

Muriel runs a language class for children in Shymkent, a run down city of half a million people.

She started working with cerebral palsy sufferers after being introduced to two couples who were parents of physically handicapped children.

One of the kids, Cornellius, became the face of the appeal to build the centre.

Muriel's first step was to offer able bodied and disabled youngsters like Cornellius the chance to play together at her home in Shymkent.

"They're with other children which they haven't been before and they're thrilled. There's another little boy who comes who can only move his eyes and I got him stimulated. He was smiling and he was responding just to being with other children," says Muriel.

Kazakhstan is a country of extremes. While most people live on a salary of £20 a month, others live in the lap of luxury. Medicines and medical treatment, free under communism, now have to be paid for and the country is rife with corruption.

At the heart of the centre will be a nursery for youngsters with and without disabilities. Muriel plans to call it a Kids Club to avoid the red tape imposed by the authorities.

"It's mostly going to be fun and play in a loving, caring atmosphere," she says.

The project has received a £50,000 donation from a business friend of its chairman of trustees. Another £50,000 is needed to incorporate respite care facilities and a hydrotherapy pool and Muriel would love to hear from any local businesses interested in sponsoring the scheme.

Anyone interested in finding out more about the Cornellius Project should contact Muriel or Debbie Chad on 973 8282.