Visit of children from Chernobyl to North Berwick

The Rotary club of North Berwick has for several years been hosting children from Chernobyl, giving them a fun day out. This year the children came from a poor rural agricultural area of Chernobyl. Their land is still badly contaminated with the radioactivity from the explosion of the nuclear plant in 1986. As a result of the radioactive pollution the children's immune system against cancer is very low and a high percentage of the young people will suffer from cancer of the Thyroid Gland. Research indicates that if the young people from Chernobyl can be given a holiday away from the pollution, on their return home their immune system is greatly boosted. Statistics show that for each week away in clean air and healthy food their life expectancy is extended by 1 year.

The children visit various parts of the UK, and on this occasion were staying with host families in Edinburgh. During their visit to North Berwick, they had a trip in the Braveheart, a shore ride on the inshore Lifeboat and a visit to the Seabird Centre. After a bonus visit to the aviaries in the Lodge Grounds, the children went to the Sports Centre for an hour on the Trampolines followed by a picnic at the Lodge grounds play area.

Many of the activities (and a round of ice creams!) were provided free by North Berwick businesses and attractions, and the North Berwick Rotary Club is grateful for their support.

The children certainly appreciated the day at the seaside, especially as it was one of the few warm and sunny days that we have had this year, and expressed their appreciation by singing a haunting folk song which reduced the Seabird cafe to silence.