‘People just give and give’

Donors thanked as Chernobyl Lifeline comes to an end

After almost 30 years of assisting families struggling to survive the aftermath of nuclear disaster, Roscrea's Chernobyl Lifeline project has sadly been wound down.

Founded by local man Henry Deane in the 1990s, Chernobyl Lifeline facilitated the arrival of tens of thousands of children from Chernobyl for short-term stays with host families in Ireland. But, as is the case with many charity organisations, Henry and his small team of volunteers have found an absence of new people looking to continue the good work that they started.

“We don't have young people coming along to take over. This is true of a lot of Chernobyl organisations,” said Henry, whose Chernobyl Lifeline was one of around 30 similar groups inspired by Adi Roche of the national Friends of the Children of Chernobyl.

“Funds are difficult to get, young people are not taking over and we are getting old, so, like many organisations, we are closing down.”

The remaining funds in the Chernobyl Lifeline accounts - €5,000 - were presented to Ms Roche at FRS headquarters in Roscrea recently, where members of the Herdwatch team had raised over €10,500 climbing the Devil's Bit (see article elsewhere on this website). Henry was glad that his fundraising legacy looks set to continue under FRS.

Having worked as an auctioneer and volunteered with St Vincent de Paul, Henry said he was sad to close a significant chapter of his life's work, from which he has many great memories.

“We got a tremendous amount of excitement and adventure, and we got a lot of good out of it. We did enjoy it very, very much. From my point of view, I would love be going at it again but, alas, age is against us.”

Originally set up to supply essential aid such as medical and educational equipment to the affected region of Belarus, Henry's charity soon grew to organise month-long stays for Chernobyl children in Ireland. Chernobyl Lifeline brought over children to stay with host families in north Tipperary, south Offaly, Limerick and Laois in the months of June, July, August and September. As well as a healthy reprieve from the environment they were growing up in, these children were often afforded medical and dental care during their short stays here, which may have added years to their lives.

Henry kept in touch over the years with many of the children - many of whom have since gone on to have kids of their own. “Some of those children wouldn't be alive if it wasn't for our efforts and indeed the efforts of the people who gave us the funding,” he pointed out.

“It was a wonderful experience - I couldn't recommend it to anyone highly enough. To see the faces of those children arriving on the coaches and then to see them going away a month later. They achieved so much, and their hair was bright and clean and their clothes were new - and their faces were sad going back.”

The most famous of those children was Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, now leader of Belarus' democratic movement in exile. Henry, who has visited Belarus many times and has a deep understanding of the region's history and culture, prays that the war will lead to an ousting of President Alexander Lukashenko. He still speaks to Sviatlana on a regular basis, and had a memorable home visit from her and her children last summer.

“The Belorussian people do not want to be involved in war,” Henry said. “Only the government want it and want to be friendly with Putin. A very difficult time.”

Taking the opportunity to thank the host families, airport staff, bus drivers and everyone who supported Chernobyl Lifeline over the years, Henry said the greatest praise must go the people of Roscrea and district for their generosity in answering fundraising calls.

“The best people in the world to contribute to charity are the Irish, and the best place in Ireland is the Diocese of Killaloe, which always came out best in contributions to charity, and one of the best places in the Diocese of Killaloe is Roscrea. I mean, the people just give and give.”