A Rotherham couple who raised money to help improve the lives of children living in a highly radioactive environment have returned to the swimming pool where they started their fundraising plight – with the children they have helped.
Chris and Karola Woods swam a mile at Concord Sports Centre in Shiregreen in April to raise money for flights so that children affected by the Chernobyl disaster could spend time at the couple’s home, benefit from the UK’s fresh air and food and enjoy local leisure facilities.
Belarus was the country harmed most by the Chernobyl disaster in April 1986, where radiation blew towards the country after a nuclear power plant explosion in neighbouring Ukraine. It is considered the worst nuclear accident in history. Some areas are still highly radioactive and will be for thousands of years.
The two girls, aged nine and ten, have been with the couple for the last two weeks and have made use of centres operated by Sheffield International Venues (SIV), where Chris and Karola are members of the gym scheme Fitness Unlimited. It was the first time that the two girls, who didn't know one another before the trip, had been away from home.
As well as donating the time in Concord Sports Centre’s pool to host the sponsored swim, SIV has given the couple free leisure swimming passes for Ponds Forge International Sports Centre, Hillsborough Leisure Centre and Concord. They have also received a family skating pass for iceSheffield.
The Chernobyl Children’s Project (CCP) charity gives children from the region a month’s break from their highly polluted environment. Such a holiday can boost the immune system of a child from Chernobyl for up to two years.
Richard Apps, general manager at Concord Sports Centre, said: “What Chris and Karola have done is incredibly worthwhile and they will have given the girls an unforgettable holiday as well as helping them greatly with their health.
“The couple are doing such a good deed out of the goodness of their hearts so we were happy to help them where we could.”
To offer to be a host family, contact Chris Woods on 07973 381 424 or visit www.chernobyl-children.org.uk.
The blog about the girls’ stay is at www.lovechernobylkids.wordpress.com.
