Friends of Chernobyl's Children

Last night I actually went out for the evening! I went to Cleator Moor, to the Civic Hall for the Friends of Chernobyl Childrens Fund Raiser. I went last year. The FOCC aim is to help relieve the suffering of children affected by the radiation explosion from the nuclear plant at Chernobyl. It provides family placements for children/orphans from the Mogilev region for at least one month each year and to meet full costs of these visits, which will include optical, dental and health checks as well as lots of loving tender care by extensive fund raising by the FOCC can meet the full costs of all the visits without additional contribution from the host families. Here is to next years event!

My cakes went down well at Fobbles. I have an order now for their Open Days/Exhibitions. I was highly delighted! I am going to take a day or two reprieve from looking at any cupcake magazines or books, just to give my poor nerves a rest. I shall plan and decide what to make next time, much more in advance.

I looked though the schedule for Gosforth Show. At this undecided moment, the classes I may enter are looking a bit like this:

• 57 Handmade Christmas Decoration - the bauble from last christmas
• 58 An item in crochet - maybe the hat I made in the spring, maybe
• 61 Counted Thread Embroidery - Fairy and Wizards, or even the gold, orange and green celtic sampler
• 66 A handmade bag - might be the one I'm doing now, depending on how it turns out
• 70 A bookmark - only if I find a pattern that knocks my socks off
• 77 A hand knitted scarf - the blue one I knitted last summer that I've yet to block
• 78 A HAnd knitted premature baby item - I'd like to do this, but it will be time dependant
• 79 Hand knitted tea cosy - again, time dependant
• 80 Hand knitted item in any ply - golly gosh, this could send me spiralling into orbit! Contenders are - Lydia Shawl, Spiral Doily, winter apple shawl, to name a few off the top of my head.

I think I may leave the Baking Section till next year. I do believe that it would seriously mess with my fragile karma if I entered this year. I would like to. I'm not saying it won't happen, I'm just not planning to. My stress levels will probably be through the roof and I have to think of my poor HK during this time!

Talking of knitting and such like - have you seen the footage of the Knitting Woman at Wimbledon during Saturdays match with Andy Muray? Knitty and the Daily Mail (seperately) are trying to find out who she is. She was knitting something pink and was wearing a Citron Shawl - I have one knitted by my Ravelry Friend Sue in Italy.

Friends Of Chernobyl's Children

I have been to a Fund Raising Event for Friends of Chernobyl's Children. It was held at Cleator Moor Civic Centre. It was an enjoyable evening. The entertaining was done by Geoff Dickens, a singer and guitar player. There was also a raffle of no less than 70 prizes, a tombola, stand up bingo and a Pie & Pea Supper. Oh as well as an auction for two signed rugby shirts, one of Whitehaven and the other was Leeds Rhinos. Monies raised on the evening came to around £2250.

The event was attended by some of Chernobyl's Children. Friends of Chernobyls' Childrens Charter states " To relieve the suffering affected by the radiation explosion from the nuclear plant at Chernobyl".

The following information is what I have taken from their charter leaflet:-

Provide family placements for children/orphans from the Mogilev region for at least one month each year and to meet the full costs of these visits, which include optical, dental and health checks as well as lots of tender loving care by extensive fund raising the FOCC can meet the full costs of all the visits without additional contribution from the host families.

On 26th April 1986, the No 4 reactor at Chernobyl nuclear power station in the northern Ukraine overheated, exploded then went into meltdown. The worlds worst nuclear accident released 190 tons of highly radioactive waste material into the atmosphere, exposing the people of Chernobyl to radioactivity 90 times greater than that of The Horishima Atomic Bomb. Of the radiation that was released over 70% fell onto the population of Belarus, resulting in 800,000 children in Belarus and 380,000 in the Ukraine being at a high risk of contracting cancer and leukaemia. It will be another 24,000 years before the land is safe and the children no longer suffer.

Since then, the charity, FOCC, has helped over 1,000 children, who are at risk, bring children form Belarus to United Kingdom, for a months holiday every year. The charity targets children from orphanages or disadvantaged homes, aged between six and thirteen. These children are in great need and come from social situations that make it difficult for them to get the care they require at home.

Very sobering thoughts. But some positive ones.