Welcome to Chernobyl Children Rye

Registered Charity Number: 1062000

Who?

Chernobyl Children Rye was established in 1995 by Janet Waddams to help children from Belarus take a holiday away from the contamination caused by the nuclear accident of 1986. The children stay with families in Rye, Hastings and Battle area for up to one month. They are always accompanied by an interpreter and doctor. Over the years, the charity has hosted everyone from toddlers travelling with by their mothers, to 18-year-olds. All, generally, are either suffering from, or are in remission from cancer, and greatly benefit from being away from the contamination.

We have also been greatly helped by the local medical community who each year offer their professional expertise for free.  Many of the children are helped during their visit to Sussex with dental and other specialist check ups.

The charity also actively supports the home hospice team in Pinsk, funding two part-time hospice nurses who make regular home visits to children who are terminally ill or have severe disabilities.  The hospice team is based in Pinsk, the Brest region of Belarus.

How?

Each year we run fund-raising events and receive donations from individuals and local businesses. Others help by organising events or by providing goods and services free or at a discount.

Recent donors:  Emerald Jane Turner & friends ran the half marathon and Bromley Youth Chamber Orchestra, under their conductor,  Jonathan Josephs, have continued to support us.   Sally Ann Hart held a Jamie Oliver Coffee Morning and  Team Lizard have also made another generous donation to us this year and we thank them for their continued support.  We also continue to receive private donations from time to time for which we are very grateful.  Our excellent news this year is that “Caring and Sharing”  have very kindly selected Chernobyl Children Rye as one of their chosen charities.  This is very good news for us!

Can you Help?

There are many ways in which individuals can help, either by financial donations or hands on practical help.

Host Families
We are always in need of host families. If you think you would like to help in this way by having two youngsters to stay for two weeks, please email us at rikjepearson@yahoo.com.

Donations

Please feel free to email us or use the Donate button on the home page.  Our new Donate button is very “user friendly” and completely secure.  You can donate by using credit/debit cards as listed or via your Paypal account if you have one.  All payments are made to us via Paypal and please be assured that this is a completely safe way to donate.

Practical Help
There are many ways you can support the charity through practical help at any or our annual fund-raisers, or by helping with driving and transport during the children’s visit.

We are grateful for your support, and so are the people of Belarus suffering from the consequences of the “worst civil nuclear disaster the world has known” and who are given Hope through your generosity.