To help children suffering from the after effects of the Chernobyl disaster and economic situation

Chernobyl children life line (Sheffield link)

Copyright Greenpeace / Shirley, Clive

The deserted city of Pripyat - home to the workers of Chernobyl and their families (approximately 50 000 people). It's now a nuclear ghost town. The Chernobyl nuclear power station is visible in background.

About Us

The Chernobyl nuclear disaster was the biggest nuclear accident ever. The wind carried the nuclear cloud north over Belarus, where 70% of the radiation fell.

Although it is 20 years since the accident, people are still eating contaminated food and drinking contaminated water. Children are particularly susceptible to radiation-induced illnesses such as leukemia, thyroid cancer and tumours, and these illnesses are still on the increase.

Chernobyl Children Life Line was founded in 1991 by Victor Mizzi. Its main aims are to bring child victims of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster over to the UK for recuperative breaks of one month, and to support families in the Minsk and Gomel regions of Belarus through the provision of medicines and medical equipment.

By bringing children to the UK, and providing a clean environment and a healthy diet, it has been shown that their lives can be extended by up to 2 years.

There are over 140 local links of Chernobyl Children Life Line in the UK, but not one in South Yorkshire,

...until now.

In March 2006 a Sheffield Link was established with the aim of bringing the first group of 10 Belarusian children to Sheffield in summer 2007. It costs in the region of 500 pounds per child (for the airfare and activities), and the next few months will be spent fundraising and gathering support to bring a second group of 16 children over in summer 2008.