MSP COMMENDS CHERNOBYL CHILDREN’S LIFELINE (Jim Hume)

MSP COMMENDS CHERNOBYL CHILDREN’S LIFELINE

June 29, 2007 12:00 AM

South of Scotland MSP, Jim Hume, has today lodged a Parliamentary motion congratulating the work of the Chernobyl Children's Lifeline charity which sends children from Belarus to the UK for one month.

Jim Hume said:

"The Chernobyl Children's Lifeline is an excellent charity initiative which my family and I participated in two years ago and hope to do so again in the future. The point of sending the children to stay with a family in the UK is so that they not only experience a different way of life, but also to improve their health - Belarus actually received about 70% of the radioactive fall out from the Chernobyl disaster in 1986.

"Research has shown that by sending the children to the UK for just one month, their life span can be extended by up to two years.

The MSP continued:

"Credit should also be paid to the host families who open up their homes to the visiting children, without whom the venture would not be possible.

"The idea is great because the visiting children and the host families are able to exchange cultural differences and learn about each other's way of life."

Notes

S3M-268 Jim Hume: Chernobyl Children's Lifeline-That the Parliament congratulates the Chernobyl Children's Lifeline charity, which raises money to send Belarusian children aged between six and 13 who are living in areas affected by the Chernobyl disaster to locations all over the United Kingdom, on its success; notes the beneficial health effects and social experiences that the charity provides in arranging for the children to spend a month in the UK with a host family; further notes that a month in the UK can extend the children's life expectancy by two years, and recognises the vital role the host families, particularly in the Scottish Borders, play in improving the children's health and broadening their life skills.

Those wishing to participate in the charity can do so by visiting the website www.chernobylchildlifeline.org

Jim and family hosted two children http://www.selkirkweekendadvertiser.co.uk/viewarticle.aspx?sectionid=966&articleid=1078670