Monday, 26th April 2010 will mark the 24th Anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster. In recognition of this anniversary, Chernobyl Children’s Project International will once again roll out National Chernobyl Week (26th April to 2nd May) to commemorate and honour the children and adults who live with social, economic and medical deprivation as a result of the disaster which happened 24 years ago.

This commemorative week will give Chernobyl Children’s Project International (CCPI) the opportunity to raise awareness of the work of the charity and raise additional funds to support one of the most important programmes of the charity, the child Cardiac Surgery Programme.

Every year in Belarus and in Ukraine thousands of children are born with a condition known as ‘Chernobyl Heart’. Many of these children have been deemed ‘inoperable’ and beyond hope. CCPI in conjunction with one of the world’s top cardiac surgeons, Dr William Novick, perform life-saving operations to save these children and give them back a normal life.

We are seeking a network of volunteers nationwide to sell €2 charity pins, pens and fridge magnets (50 items per box) in towns, cities and villages during National Chernobyl Week. Each CCPI branded box can be delivered direct to your door. We will also have information cards in each box which gives background information on the charity and the work we do.

We are also looking for coordinators who would be happy to coordinate teams of volunteers in each area i.e. take the names of the volunteers, give out the boxes and liaise with the Chernobyl Children’s Project International office.

We are appealing to volunteers all over Ireland to give whatever help they can so we can offer hope to live to children with the Chernobyl Heart condition. If you or your network of friends and family have any free time please sign up to help us raise more funds to continue our work.

For more information or to sign up to help please contact Paula Kilcommons on 021-4312999 or e-mail pkilcommons@chernobyl-ireland.com