This article is from page 37 of the 2007-04-24 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 37 JPG
THE blazing sunshine may have departed but a wave of good cheer ereeted the hundreds of walkers who took to the roads of Liscannor for the annual Burren Chernobyl Walk which took place on Sunday.
This year’s walk, which is the main fundraiser for the Ennistymon based Burren Chernobyl! Projects, attracted a large and enthusiastic crowd to walk and help support the people suffering as a result of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster 21 years ago.
“We had a really great turnout and everything went so so well,” said Carmel Mescal of the Burren Cher-
nobyl Project.
“We would really like to thank all of those who turned up for the walk, the people who sponsored them and all of those who contributed badly needed funds for the ongoing work in Belarus.
“The work is ongoing over there. There is a group going out from Lis- cannor later this Summer. The will be mostly doing construction work in Tarasiki, some general structural repair as-well-as the upgrading of a few facilities like showers.
“There is a group from Ennis over there at the moment. There are al- ways new groups of volunteers going over and offering their skills.”
The annual walk is the Burren Chernobyl Projects main fundraiser for the project each year. At present the charity organisation helps to sup- port children at Gorodishche and Chevron as well as adults in Cylb, Tarasiki, Cosovo and Yazouk1.
Besides providing basic care and assistance for the people living in the orphanages, the project is also set to begin a day care programme which will allow children to return to their family during the evenings and spend their days in the institutions.
The walk takes place this Sunday, April 22, leaving from the Liscan- nor Hotel. Registration takes place between 12 noon and Ipm and all are
welcome to come take part.
Meanwhile, counting is well under way following the Annual Dunleavy Walk which took place in Doolin earlier in the month. Gerry and Toni Dunleavey led more than 200 people in the walk which was one of the best supported in recent years.
“It was very successful, the sun shone and there was great fun and commitment from everyone who came out on the day,” said organiser Mary O’Connor.
“The local people were brilliant. We raised a lot of money and there is as much to come in. The Michael Dunleavy Foundation are so grateful to everyone for all the help.”