CCPI will hold the charity's first ever Spring Raffle this April in the hope of raising much-needed funds for our Cardiac Programme. Many surgeons working in the Chernobyl Zone identified a previously unknown condition which they have termed Chernobyl Heart. With just one operation, the Chernobyl Heart condition can be easily remedied. Each operation costs just €1,000.00. It is estimated that 800 to 1000 new-born infants are added to this list each year. Without intervention most of the children on the waiting list are looking at a very short lifespan. Many of them will die within 3 to 5 years.

Background to CCPI's Cardiac Programme

 
Under the guidance and vision of eminent American Cardiac Surgeon, Dr Bill Novick, CCPI has saved the lives of thousands of children who suffer from a marked increase in cardiac birth defects since the Chernobyl disaster of 1986. Over 55% of all deaths in Belarus alone are due to cardiovascular disease. Volunteer surgical teams travel to the Ukraine and Belarus to save lives and train and upskill local physicians. CCPI has helped reduce the waiting list for cardiac surgery from 7,000 children in 2002, to less than 2,500 today in Belarus.

A new Cardiac Programme began in Ukraine in 2008, with cardiac missions undertaken across four of the main cities including Kiev, Kharkiv, Odessa and Donetsk. CCPI is working with medical partners to reduce an existing waiting list in Ukraine from 6,000 children to zero within the next five years. Since its establishment the Chernobyl Children's Project International has made vigorous efforts to tackle this problem and has arranged for many children to receive the cardiac treatment they require.

Objectives of the Cardiac Programme for 2010

CCPI will carry out a minimum of six missions in 2010 and will continue to support ongoing training and development. The training and development of local physicians and medics is an essential part of every cardiac mission. This training develops local capacity and allows the upskilling of local surgical teams. CCPI also hope to purchase essential medical equipment where required and where funds allow.

The Raffle prizes

We have some fantastic prizes on offer:

1st prize €2,000

2nd prize €1000

3rd prize €500

We also have a selection of runners up prizes.

Date of Raffle draw

The last date to return tickets is 26th April 2010 and the draw will be held on Friday 30th April 2010

We will contact the winners through their contact details on the stub they return to us, we will publish the list on our website and we will also take out an advert in the Irish Times.

If you would like to get involved and sell books of raffle tickets to your friends and family please contact Jayne Davies on  021-4312999  or alternatively please e-mail jdavies@chernobyl-ireland.com