Dedicated mum nominated for helping kids of Belarus

GIN McGiffin is a real contender for a Pride of Swindon award. The mum-of-three from Oakhurst works hard to organise trips to Swindon for Belarussian children, who have been affected by the Chernobyl nuclear disaster.The nuclear accident took place on April 25, 1986, and wind carried radiation north over Belarus. Children in the country are particularly susceptible to radiation induced illnesses and many have leukaemia, cancer of the thyroid and other cancers.Babies are still being born with serious deformities.

Gin formed the Swindon Link of the Chernobyl Children Life Line in April 2006 to help the children who suffer from the after effects of the disaster. It uses about 15 families hosting 40 children a year in Swindon.

She said: “I am honoured to be nominated for a Pride of Swindon award. I formed the Swindon group after I hosted two children at my house and knowing I would never turn my back on these forgotten children.

“One of the little girls we hosted was diagnosed with cancer while on respite care with us. She was only eight years old and from a poverty stricken rural area of Belarus with only an alcoholic mother to care for her.

“I knew upon her return she would never receive any help so my mission of hospital visits and raising funds began after the passion and commitment to this child. I was approached to set up a link in Swindon to find families just like ourselves to host other forgotten children.

“The primary work I undertake within the charity is visiting Belarus to choose children and forging necessary relationships to bring children to our local community for one month respite care and education.”

It is estimated that one month’s stay extends their life expectancy by two years. The children return home with reduced levels of radiation in their bodies and with stronger immune systems.

Gin said: “It’s about welcoming two children into your home, caring and nurturing them as if they were your own. We provide them with nourishing food, give them a holiday of a lifetime and allow them to enjoy the comforts of the person’s home.

“An interpreter accompanies the children from their village and is on hand throughout the visit and I am on call 24/7.”

The Swindon Link group concentrates on the village of Ozarichi in the Gomel area of Belarus, which is 30 miles north of the Chernobyl exclusion zone.

Gin holds meetings once a month to come up with ideas to raise money for air fares, shoes and outings.

She is also part of the charity Chernobyl Children In Need, which was set up in 1999 and is run by qualified volunteers. Its first project was to build toilets at the main school in Ozarichi when all there was previously were holes in the ground. Since then CCIN has carried out over 26 projects providing new build or upgrading works to not only the main school in Ozarichi but the kindergarten, the special needs school and hospital.

Gin said the charity always needs more Swindonians to offer homes to the children. For information ring 01793 728251 or email [email protected]

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