Chernobyl Children Ice Ball
By Christy Parker | Photos: Michael Hussey (YoughalOnline) and Chernobyl Children’s Trust
Children from Belarus pictured during their recent visit to Youghal
Signed and framed Munster, Sunderland and Cork City jerseys will be auctioned as part of an exquisite Ice Ball celebration being held by the Chernobyl Children’s Trust on Saturday next (Nov 15th). Interested parties may bid at the Oriel House Hotel Ballincollig on the night or submit reserve bids through the organisers (see below for phone numbers).
Tickets for the ball cost €100 and formal attire is required. The night promises a deluxe experience of wine, dine, music and fun, commencing at 7pm with a champagne reception, followed by a gourmet, five-course dinner. Multi-dimensional band, Be Serious (connections with the Bone Brothers), will perform, followed by a DJ ”til late’. Spot prizes, door prizes, a raffle and gift bags will also adorn the occasion. Prize donations are also still being accepted and “all money raised goes directly to the various projects we support,” says CCT spokeswoman Kate Revins.
Further details from Deena Walsh (087-9267302, Whitegate); Carol Murray (087-9474997, Saleen); Paula Wolkie (085-7818740, (Cobh); Kate Revins (087-2360535,(Youghal).
Web: www.chernobylchildrenstrust.ie
THE CHERNOBYL CHILDREN’S TRUST:
The Cork/Waterford based Trust was formed in 2002 and is entirely voluntary. Volunteers are constantly required for a range of assistance activities that, briefly, involve:
Humanitarian Aid: Hand sorting aid and medicines for delivery by truck to Belarus.
Fundraising: Local events encouraged.
Convoy: Drivers supply cab (usually through fundraising); Trust provides trailer and accompanying ambulances. Trips take up to three weeks and drivers also cover costs, including flight home. Further understanding of myriad Chernobyl consequences forms part of the experience.
Nursing/Medical: All genres of qualified medical professionals need to work for minimum one-week stints in Belarus. In-country arrangements made by Trust and volunteer asked to assist with costs.
Construction: Again contribute to costs and work in tandem with Belarus trade personnel in renovations in disadvantaged areas.
Research/Evaluation: Now urgently needed to co-ordinate research and valuation on various Trust projects currently underway. Assist with costs but some funding grants available.
Host Children: Open home and heart for the grateful children from the affected area, for two to four weeks. Activities organised, interpreters available. A life-enhancing experience on both sides.
In more recent times, the Trusts was approached by ‘White Dover Chernobyl’, a Belarus organisation dealing with seriously ill children and their families. These are families who have chosen to care for their ill children at home rather than give them up to State care, which is the norm. The Trust members found an immense love, dedication and great dignity struggling amidst poverty, hardship and a dearth of official support.
The Trust’s subsequent report recalls families living in “huge concrete blocks without wheelchair access, gloomy stairwells and corridors.” However, “once the door of a flat was opened, we were welcomed into the warmth of the family home, which was often just one room serving as living, kitchen and bedroom,” says the report.
A small number of medical professionals were amongst the members who travelled to the city of Gomel. On assessing many of the children they found, despite the harsh conditions, that many of the needs of the families were achievable. Friday night in Ballincollig is part of the reason why.
The full report on last March’s visit posted on the Trust’s website.
Please click on image to enlarge.
Related Stories
If you enjoyed this post, please consider to leave a comment or subscribe to the feed and get future articles delivered to your feed reader.
Comments
* All comments are moderated before publishing.No comments yet.
Leave a comment