An Art Auction in aid of Chernobyl Children's Project International will take place on Friday, April 24th at 8.45 pm. Twelve paintings donated by Aidan Bradley, Mike Fitzharris, Ken Browne, Maurice Pierse, Karen Wilson, Mat Grogan, Joby Hickey, Jo Ashby, Majella O'Neill - Collins, Sue Rainsford, Matt Lamb & Yvonne Moore will be on sale with all proceeds going towards the charity's Cardiac Programme. To view the paintings visit - http://www.warren-gallery.com/category.asp?CatID=213

Some background on 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 market 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 & Belarus to save lives and train and upskill local physicians. CCPI has helped reduced the waiting list for cardiac surgery from 7,000 children in 2002 to less than 2,500 today in Belarus.

A new Cardiac Programme was successfully rolled out into the Ukraine in 2008, with cardiac missions undertaken across 4 of the main cities including Kiev, Kharkiv, Odessa & 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. Without the charity's intervention, most of the children would die within three to five years.