Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
This is Surrey --
BELARUSSIAN children affected by radiation from the Chernobyl disaster have arrived in Mole Valley for a respite holiday.
The trip has been organised by the Mid Surrey Link of the Chernobyl Children's Life Line, a charity which gives children breaks away from their homeland, which is still affected by nuclear fallout.
The local branch, which covers most of Mole Valley, is run by Ashtead residents Maurice Jones and his wife Tessa, who welcomed the arrival of 12 children on Wednesday this week.
Mr Jones said: "The holiday is a good chance for the children to have the sort of fun they deserve.
"We take them on trips to the seaside and to Chessington, but we also get them appointments at the opticians and the dentists, so they are properly cared for.
"As well as improving their health while they are here, they also improve their English, and we give them clothes to take home for themselves and any siblings they have."
Each annual trip involves 12 children aged 9 to 11 staying with families for a month during July and August.
Though Chernobyl is in Ukraine, Belarus was worst hit by the 1986 nuclear power station meltdown, with 70 per cent of the fallout landing on its territory.
This year the cost of bringing a child over from Eastern Europe rose from £500 to £586 – an increase of 17 per cent – due to an exemption that allowed child visa fees to be waived expiring in March.
Mr Jones said the rise did not put this year's trip at risk, as the group fundraises a year in advance, but could put future visits in jeopardy.
He added: "We will be OK for this year, but next year could be a struggle and we are simply going to have to raise more money.
"A rise of £86 for 15 children is obviously substantial.
"It is quite daunting and something that we are definitely going to be proactive about."
He continued: "Either we are going to have to find extra money or we are going to have to cut some of the activities we organise for them while they are here, which the children love."
For more information, call 01428 642523 or visit www. midsurreylink.org Reported by This is 16 minutes ago.
Clik here to view.
This is Surrey --BELARUSSIAN children affected by radiation from the Chernobyl disaster have arrived in Mole Valley for a respite holiday.
The trip has been organised by the Mid Surrey Link of the Chernobyl Children's Life Line, a charity which gives children breaks away from their homeland, which is still affected by nuclear fallout.
The local branch, which covers most of Mole Valley, is run by Ashtead residents Maurice Jones and his wife Tessa, who welcomed the arrival of 12 children on Wednesday this week.
Mr Jones said: "The holiday is a good chance for the children to have the sort of fun they deserve.
"We take them on trips to the seaside and to Chessington, but we also get them appointments at the opticians and the dentists, so they are properly cared for.
"As well as improving their health while they are here, they also improve their English, and we give them clothes to take home for themselves and any siblings they have."
Each annual trip involves 12 children aged 9 to 11 staying with families for a month during July and August.
Though Chernobyl is in Ukraine, Belarus was worst hit by the 1986 nuclear power station meltdown, with 70 per cent of the fallout landing on its territory.
This year the cost of bringing a child over from Eastern Europe rose from £500 to £586 – an increase of 17 per cent – due to an exemption that allowed child visa fees to be waived expiring in March.
Mr Jones said the rise did not put this year's trip at risk, as the group fundraises a year in advance, but could put future visits in jeopardy.
He added: "We will be OK for this year, but next year could be a struggle and we are simply going to have to raise more money.
"A rise of £86 for 15 children is obviously substantial.
"It is quite daunting and something that we are definitely going to be proactive about."
He continued: "Either we are going to have to find extra money or we are going to have to cut some of the activities we organise for them while they are here, which the children love."
For more information, call 01428 642523 or visit www. midsurreylink.org Reported by This is 16 minutes ago.
