Hampshire farmers in fundraising appeal for Chernobyl kids

Farmers in Hampshire have launched an appeal to raise awareness and funds to transform the lives of the children of Chernobyl in Ukraine and Belarus – the location of the world’s worst nuclear accident.

Monday 26 April will mark the 35th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear power station disaster, which led to the deaths of thousands of people and the evacuation of those living in the nearby town of Pripyat and the surrounding area.

Two explosions blew the 200t roof off the reactor building and a fire started in its core burned for several days.

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A cloud of deadly radioactive dust was dispersed into the nearby environment and it continued to pour from the damaged reactor for 10 days.

Radioactive fallout

The fallout of radioactive material was more than 90 times greater than that of US atomic bombs dropped during the Second World War over the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki combined.

More than 70% of it fell on Belarus; some of these highly carcinogenic radioactive particles have a half-life of 24,000 years.

As a result, vast areas of farmland and woodland were badly contaminated, putting farming and forestry communities on the verge of survival as they were not able to grow the produce they used to or needed heavy investment into special decontamination measures and blends of fertilisers to minimise accumulation of radioactive elements in their crops.

Not many could afford such investment and had to leave the area also fearing for their health and the health of their children.

The children of women who have spent their lives exposed to high levels of radiation are now suffering with illnesses and many have leukaemia, cancer of the thyroid, other cancers and weaker immune systems, making Covid-19 even more of a danger to them.

© CCLL

Barn-Store Alton and The Lavender Fields are the self-storage and lavender farm businesses based at Hartley Park Farm near Selborne, Alton.

Network of volunteers

The farm also runs an arable operation and a business park and one of its tenants is Chernobyl Children’s Lifeline (CCLL), a local, British charity run by a small group of dedicated staff and a huge network of volunteers that helps support the child victims of the Chernobyl disaster.

CCLL helps the families and children on the ground in eastern Europe, provides respite care for them, and funds and hosts breaks for the children to the UK.

Farmer Simon Butler said in previous years, the team has run charity Easter fun days and The Lavender Fields fundraising open days to help raise money for CCLL and other local charities.

RED 35

However, with Covid restrictions still limiting event activity this year, they have decided to focus on “RED 35” – an online and media campaign to continue their support and increase awareness of this charity.

Banners are being erected in several of the farm’s fields locally to remind people of the victims of the Chernobyl disaster.

Mr Butler said: “We realise times are very hard for all, but charities, especially the smaller ones, are really struggling to raise funds to carry out their ongoing activities.

“If you can help us raise the profile of this appeal or feel you can support Chernobyl Children’s Lifeline with a donation, it would be very much appreciated.”

You can donate on the Chernobyl Children’s Lifeline website.