Page 35 - link magazine

swindonlink.com • April 2011 35
Helping families

in the shadow of Chernobyl
Louise Mackinlay, manager of the Cable&Wireless Worldwide Data Cen-
tre at Windmill Hill Business Park, describes the week in March spent
in Belarus with colleague Dan Baker and Gin McGiffi n from Oakhurst,
Swindon coordinator of Chernobyl Children in Need (CCIN).

Staff at the Swindon data
centre have become closely
involved with CCIN and the Looking for fun,
trip gave us an opportunity
to meet Belarusian people in friendship
the contaminated region of and fi tness?
Gomel, just 30km from the
Chernobyl exclusion zone, ABSOLUTE BEGINNERS
and to see how the money
raised has been spent. RUNNING COURSES
Our main aim was to visit In just 10 weeks we will
the children sponsored by Hey help you run non-stop for
colleagues based in Swindon 30 minutes (approx. 5km)
and at other sites around the Superwoman!
country, and also to see how INFORMATION AND
our ‘cow project’ is going. REGISTRATION EVENING
In 2010 a number of staff
Louise and Dan visit a family in Ozarchi
ran the Reading half mara- Tuesday 3rd May, 7.30pm
thon to raise money to buy a cow to ensure that March is properly at Unit 8, Star West,
for a family in Gomel, CCIN’s fi rst looked after. Westmead Drive, SN5 7SW
sustainable project. Cow No.1, or It was incredibly humbling to see You deserve time for you!
‘Chayka’ as she is affectionately how this money can change a fam- For more information call
known by the hardworking family, ily’s life and how hard the Belarusian Massage Reiki Crystal Facials
has given them fresh milk and the people are prepared to work once www.swindon-holistics.co.uk Clare on 07793 573487
children are now healthier because given a helping hand. Email: [email protected]
of it. On 7 March she was due to In addition to March, purchased 07966 www.lspersonaltraining.com
have a calf which allows the fam- from the local collective farm at just 214408 Affi liated to England Athletics
ily to take their next step in self £750 including insurance, we bought Basepoint Business Centre Your sanctuary away Qualifi ed Running Coaches
suffi ciency. More livestock means three families 10 chickens each, at a Westlea from daily stress
more opportunities and any surplus cost of £50 per family. This means
products can be sold in the village some of the poorest children will
for a little extra money. now get vital protein with a simple The Thyme
25 years since egg each morning before school.
We also visited several schools
nuclear disaster in the Ozarichi area where CCIN Treatment
With nuclear radiation again in the has done a fantastic job to improve Rooms
headlines, Chernobyl Children in facilities. Many of the children are
Need is marking a quarter of a now individually sponsored by Centre for Health
century since the Chernobyl nuclear Swindon families, which means DITCH THE
power station blew up, they receive healthy school meals WORK OUT, & Wellbeing
irradiating a wide area. and fresh fruit daily. It was evident
Join CCIN for a fundraising evening how much the teachers care for the JOIN THE PARTY!
on Tuesday 26 April at San Marco’s, children and appreciate the work The Latin Inspired,
Faringdon Road, preceded by sky done by the charity.
lanterns in the park. Dan and I were staggered that the Easy To Follow
Book a table by calling 496797. cost of food and basic necessities is Calorie-Burning Anti-stress Fleuressence
Despite working a 12 hour day, similar to the UK, while the average Dance-Fitness Party Body Treatment
seven days a week at a farm miles wage is around $100 US per month. Red Oaks Primary School: just £35 for Mothers day
away, with only a bicycle for trans- It brought home to us, with those Mondays: 6.10pm - 7.00pm Ever tried Kinesiology???
port, Mr Gorniak said Chayka was costs and that income, how could Need something to
a gift that ‘has allowed him to step we survive? Wednesdays: 6.40pm - 7.30pm boost low energy levels
onto the fi rst rung of the ladder.’ Yet, we were thankful to see that Gorse Hill Community Centre: 10% discount in March
Before Christmas a number of our the aid colleagues collect and send
colleagues started more fundraising by container shipment twice a year Sundays: 7.00pm - 7.50pm **NEW**
for CCIN, including Dan making is getting straight to the people who Wednesdays: 12.10pm - 1.00pm Michelle is our new practitioner
tea at the Swindon data centre for need it most. Toothill Community Centre: working in Acupuncture.
a day dressed as Mrs Santa Claus. We were truly welcomed with Tuesdays: 12.30pm - 1.20pm Focused Counselling
As a result he was able to fund the open arms by the Belarusian people.
purchase of cow No.2. It was an experience Dan and I will Freshbrook Community Centre: Counselling is a journey and only
Named ‘March,’ the cow was never forget. Tuesdays: 6.00pm - 6.45pm you can take the fi rst step....
delivered during our visit. The Louise has written a longer article Tel: 01793 692691
family chosen were astounded and which is published with more pho- Kathie 0777 5651566
delighted to receive the gift. They tographs at http://bit.ly/slink3 [email protected] 709 Delta Offi ce Park
welcomed us into their home with Welton Road, Swindon SN5 5XN
such gratitude; it was impossible not To sponsor a child or purchase www.zumbainswindon.co.uk Also at Swindon Marriott Hotel
to become emotional. The children livestock for a needy family, mail: Tel: 01793 433338
were so excited and looked forward Gin McGiffi n at gin@mcgiffi n.com ZUMBA® and the Zumba Fitness logo
are trademarks used under license.
to helping with the daily chores www.ccin.co.uk www.thethymetreatmentrooms.co.uk

21-52 April 11.indd 35 18/03/2011 14:37