The former Chernobyl nuclear power plant

by Tim Collins

The Kentish Express is backing an
appeal to enable a charity to continue bringing children affected
by the Chernobyl disaster on respite trips to the area.

In last week's paper we reported how the work done by the Chernobyl Children’s Lifeline Ashford and Romney Marsh Link to support youngsters affected by the 1986 nuclear disaster is being threatened by the government.

The story attracted an overwhelming response from readers.

Each year children from Belarus and
Ukraine whose lives have been blighted by the fallout from the
explosion are invited by the charity to visit Ashford, to enjoy a
period of fun and recuperation.

But the visits are being threatened
after an announcement by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office that
free visas for these children will end this March.

We called on people across the
borough to sign a petition to oppose the changes, and scores of you
contacted the paper to voice your support – including one reader
from Bristol.

We are calling on people across Kent to sign a petition to
oppose the changes, and are urging our readers to dig deep to help
fund the work being done by Sarah Day and her fellow volunteers at
the Ashford and Romney branch of the national charity.

Sarah (pictured right) said: “I think it’s great that people
understand what the charity is about, and it just goes to show they
support what we do.

“Even though the children are from
far away, so many people in the area get involved while they are
over here. We visit Ashford fire station, the Norton Knatchbull
School, groups for older people, churches and other
organisations.

“The work we do is proven to help
them, with a dramatic reduction measured in the levels of the
radioactive Caesium-137 that causes them to get sick, when they
return home.

“Their attendance record at school
also often improves, and they want to work hard to improve their
lives.”

To make a donation, please visit the Kentish Express Just Giving site here.