Twenty six years since ‘Chernobyl’, scene of the world’s worst nuclear disaster, sixteen school-children from the town of Korosten in Ukraine have enjoyed a four-week respite holiday to Scotland including a visit to Snow Factor (snowfactor.com) in Xscape Braehead to the west of Glasgow.
Organised by the Ayrshire link of the charity, Chernobyl Children’s Lifeline (www.ccll.org.uk/Ayrshire), the visit is designed to break the children’s continual exposure, with the associated health risks, to the high levels of radiation in a town located just 30 miles from the reactor site.
Snow Factor, one of several day trips including visit to Stirling Castle and Edinburgh Zoo, hosted the young Ukrainian visitors and their teachers and translators with fun sledging, skiing and a tasty lunch in the recently opened Bar Varia (Bavarian themed) alpine-style restaurant.
“Through the generous support of the likes of Snow Factor, Chernobyl Children’s Lifeline Ayrshire Link gives children respite from constant exposure to radiation in their community. From speaking to the parents and teachers of the kids who come over, it’s clear every child benefits both physically and mentally from the opportunities we give during their stay,” said Michael Lafferty, chairman of Chernobyl Childrens Lifeline Ayrshire Link, “For many it’s a once-in-a-lifetime trip. And to be successful, we are wholly dependent on the goodwill of companies like Snow Factor and people volunteering their time to support and accommodate the children during their stay.”