Several children from the Chernobyl area of Ukraine have enjoyed a special recuperative holiday to the Isle of Wight.
The group of 8 youngsters aged between 10 and 12 were treated to a range of activities during a 3 week break on the Island organised by the charity Island Hosts.
It is the 11th time Island Hosts has arranged the visit and once again the group has expressed its thanks to supporters of the project which includes the Isle of Wight College and Wightlink.
This year’s trip included visits to Amazon World, Godshill Model Village, Blackgang Chine, the Isle of Wight College, UKSA, Tapnell Farm, Brown’s Golf Course, the Isle of Wight Steam Railway and the Isle of Wight Zoo. A visit to the luxury cruise ship Marina operated by the Oceana Group was a particular highlight this year.
The idea of the visits has historically been to provide a recuperative break to people whose lives has been affected by the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear accident.
Paul explains:
“Spending time away from their home environment greatly decreases the amount of radioactive contamination within the children’s bodies and allows their immune system to strengthen prior to the onset of puberty when cancers tend to strike.”
But this year, the trip has also provided respite for a young girl whose family had moved to escape the war in the east of the country and a child whose father had died days before she left for the Island.
Paul adds:
“Island Hosts raises the £500 it costs to bring each child to the Island through a series of events each year and we rely on the tremendous generosity of Island people and businesses to continue our work.
“But it is a real team effort. Besides Wightlink who give us free travel and the Isle of Wight College who lend their minibus for airport transfers, many Island attractions allow us free entry and our wonderful host families provide free board and accommodation and transport children to the daily outings across the island as well as providing clothes as many children arrive with little as their parents cannot afford a change of attire.”
Wightlink Chief Executive Keith Greenfield says:
“Once again we were delighted to support Island Hosts. We hope the visit gave the youngsters a wonderful experience and that they will take away with them some special memories of the Island.”
