Fresh air treat for Chernobyl children

2:37pm Thursday 3rd July 2008

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YOUNGSTERS from the nuclear-ravaged Chernobyl region have been enjoying the clean fresh air of North Yorkshire.

Some 16 children from the Belarus city hit by the 1986 power plant disaster have been in the county for the last month.

The visits held every year and the children take part in the breaks for four years of their lives to help boost their immune systems and significantly lower their risk of developing life-threatening diseases.

Simon Bailes Peugeot and Noble Vehicle Hire in Darlington have a long-standing community partnership and provide a minibus to help the charity which organises the visit, Friends of Chernobyl Children The seven to ten-year-olds have been staying with host families in the Northallerton area and have visited a variety of local attractions and experienced life in local schools..

The children also undergo a medical and visit a dentist and optician if needed.

Audrey Trewhitt, from Friends of Chernobyl Children, said: "Research shows that visits such as these help to build up the children's immune systems enough to prolong their lives.

"Therefore it's vital that we continue to organise them. Without the help of local community partners the visits would be difficult to organise because of the costs involved and we are incredibly grateful to Simon Bailes Peugeot and Noble Vehicle Hire who help to get the children out and about all over North Yorkshire."