Camp Claddagh, the Galway branch of the Chernobyl Children's Project International is currently fundraising for its summer recuperation programme. This year the group is bringing 30 children to Galway from Belarus to stay with volunteer host families. The group had to wait for the recent announcement of the lifting of the travel ban in order to begin fundraising and Camp Claddagh is therefore in need of urgent funds to get back on track.

One of the major fundraising events for Camp Claddagh this year will be the Merlin Park Walkers and Friends, fun walk on 3 May. Camp Claddagh is calling on people to 'talk the walk' and are encouraging people to have a good old 'natter' while enjoying the walk and raising a few bob in the process.

"It costs on average €500 to pay for a child to come to Ireland for the month of July. Doctors have proven that the month here with clean air, food and water can add up to two years’ life expectancy for a child," said Fiona Connneely, Group Leader of Camp Claddagh.

Meanwhile the group continues with its other aid programmes on the ground in Belarus. So far the group has managed to fund life-saving cardiac surgery for 27 children. The group opened its first 'Home of Hope' last year which took ten children living in an orphanage and placed them in a loving home. The group hope to open their second such home over the next two years and have already paid a deposit for this while also continuing to support 'in-country' aid programmes that will be used to help terminally ill children as well as a children with severe disabilities in need of long term care.

Anyone interested in walking/sponsoring is asked to contact Catherine Murphy on 087-6729277 or Fiona Conneely 087-2096374 for details.

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