STUDENTS from a city ravaged by radiation after a nuclear disaster nearly 30 years ago have been restoring their health at a Teesside academy.
Fourteen children from Chernobyl, the site of the catastrophic reactor explosion in 1986, visited The King’s Academy, Coulby Newham, as part of a month-long trip to the region.
Organised by the charity the Chernobyl Children’s Lifeline, the four-week stay allows the children to purge between 65 and 95 per cent of the radiation their bodies soak up living in contaminated Belarus.
Next April will be the 30th anniversary of the reactor meltdown and radiation levels local people have to endure remain dangerously high.
Charity organiser Margaret Cundall, of Middlesbrough, said: “The students get the optimal benefit from a month-long stay. It takes three years for the levels of radiation to build up again.
“Our clean food, water and air help them blossom and they are soon full of life with more colour in their faces and putting on weight.”
The children spent time with students from The King’s Academy where they painted masks, made biscuits, decorated t-shirts and enjoyed the climbing wall.
The academy has hosted youngsters from stricken Belarus for a number of years.
Head boy Francis Walton said: “The children really enjoyed it and so did we. They threw themselves into every activity and had a great time.”
The Belarussian children stay with host families in the region. Mrs Cundall said: “The more people who become involved, the more children we can bring over.”
Anyone interested in helping should contact (01642) 274944.