Woolly Hugs. Supporting the Chernobyl Children's Project. Can anyone help us?

[KnottyAndPistey]

There will need to be a quick turnaround on this but we know hope we can do it!

We have been approached and asked if we can make Little Hugs for a group of teenagers coming over to Leeds for a recuperative holiday in the summer with the fabulous charity the Chernobyl Children's Project.

Each year these marvellous folk bring children over from Belarus who live in the most contaminated area near the Chernobyl reactor. It is in the summer, when the dust causes radiation levels to rise, that it becomes even more important for as many children as possible to leave their contaminated homeland for a few weeks of fresh air and clean food. The rates of childhood cancer are at 75%, the most common cancers being thyroid and leukaemia. Coming to the UK for a four week break increases their immunity against the awful disease by up to 3 years when they return home.

This year the group in Leeds (organised by an amazing Mumsnetter) are bringing twelve children who have had cancer and are now in remission. Sadly though there is a high chance of these children falling ill again. This summer there are four boys and eight girls coming, aged between 11 and 14. They all suffer living in such difficult conditions and with very little. How perfect it would be to make them each a Little Hug.

Here's how to help with this project.....

• We would like 12” squares in bright and cheery Stylecraft Special DK colours, but please AVOID bright green, bright pink, browns, greys, citron, fiesta and jaffa. This will help squares fit together more easily. Make for a boy, girl or in a non specific colour theme. We will be happy to accept 6” squares if making a 12” one feels too much.

• Crochet or knitted, 4mm hook or needles. No blocking and please sew in pesky ends.

• We can supply all yarn for this. Let us know if we can send to you.

• Our last posting is Saturday 14th June, so we have a fighting chance of getting the blankets ready to go to the children on their arrival in the UK.

• If anyone would like to donated funds to support this, we would be so grateful. Our paypal is [email protected], cheques and cash are very welcome too, just PM for the address to send.

We know together we can do this in time! On behalf of these children, a huge THANK YOU.

Pistey and Knotty X

I'm in. It'll be my first contribution to a hug. This thread really touched me, I had no idea childhood cancer rates were so high there.
I've got yarn. What do you mean by no blocking?
I'll try to make two and will PM Pistey for the address.

Petty, just make it then do nothing to it.

Blocking : different techniques but basically involves pinning out the squares, steaming or ironing to make squares even.

Practically , great if you are the only maker of a project - creates a lovely, even make.

However, blocking for us means the squares have no ' wiggleability', and with projects like this that have many makers, with many tensions, a mix of knit and crochet, blocking can make it more tricky.

Thanks everyone, so glad we are doing this.

I am loving "wiggleability" we have got to get that as a new word of the year

Forgot to add that I've got yarn, my stylecraft stockpile has been described as "out of hand"

Yes, 75%,

So we do whatever we can.

Hideous statistics.

If there is a group in your area. See what you can do to support.

There are areas that are looking for people to co-ordinate these projects.

I can't knit for toffee but is there a donation page somewhere?

KnottyandPistey, great cause, but so sad. Will do what I can to help.

Made one while I was being a lazy cow watching tv tonight - will do some more as I seem to have rather a stash of Stylecraft lying around.

This one is aster maybe, lost the bands.

12 inches you say? Oo err Mrs.

being a host

Too Old, if you donate to us, we'll get panels made: our PayPal is [email protected]

Thank you x

I will do so tomorrow. Thank you.

Thank you all so, so much, am in tears at your kindness.

The statistics are hideous, as are the conditions a lot of the children live in. I went out to Belarus in 2012, as part of my (voluntary - I don't get paid, and neither do any of my families who help me) work with the charity, and it very nearly broke my heart.

The orphanages, the Abandoned baby Home, the hospice, the childrens cancer hospital, all of it. The quiet dignity and acceptance of the people there, the fact that a bottle of vodka costs less than a bottle of water, that everything these children eat, drink, breath is contaminated.

I have nearly 1000 pgotos from the week I spent there, and most of them made me cry. The section of the baby home that is for the babies with Downs Syndrome, the section for the cleft lip babies, the one for those with FAS...I could go on all night.

I run the Leeds group and have for a few years now. We fundraise the 7k needed for flights and visas for the children who come to Leeds in the summer, and we then give them the best 4 weeks we can - we beg every company we can think of to donate in some way - some are fantastic, others not so much - I am on call 24/7 while thew children are here as they are my overall responsibility, and by the end of August I am on my knees - but these kids arrive pale, pasty, grey faced, in the clothes they are wearing with one change if you're lucky, with a gift for you that their Mama;'s will have borrowed money to pay for - they go home 4 weeks later bursting with energy, having grown in EVERY way (going up 2 shoe sizes isn't uncommon), with 30 kkilos of luggage for them and their families, we take them to the dentist and optician and get any work done that is needed, and do our damndest to get them back onto a healthy path. Then we send them home, adn hope and pray they will make it...

ilove I know you don't do it for the thanks but

Ilove, hoping our support will help in so many ways. Xxx

ilove - what a marvellous thing you are doing.

How wonderful, ilove.

I can make one or two smaller squares. I have just checked how large 12 in is and it's much bigger than DH claims, so as a recent reknitter I think that size is beyond me

Great cause, by the way. I will add these squares to my cathpip parcel.

Pistey, do you need me to PM? I have wool already so don't need matching.

Science, no need to PM- just label your squares clearly. Huge thanks.

ilove it is a marvellous thing you are doing. I'm interested to learn more about your experiences of hosting.

I have heard of this project before. I was insistent I had watched a documentary on it when talking to DH last night who laughed at me and told me I was referring to an episode of the old fly on the wall 'Airport' that featured children visiting from Belarus.

He won't stop saying 'pasta with her high brow documentaries' and the like before laughing some more.

Anyway, I remember it well and how much the children enjoyed it and the difference it made to them.

Finished up what I was making for cathpip last night so will go and buy some wool for this project today.

ilove I am in awe of your work Count me in, it's the least I can do. Will pm you Pistey

Thanks Wool

I have sorted out all the Woolly Hugs stylecraft stash, added smaller bits from mine too and am going to start parcelling it up, want it to go today so we can crack on.

A lot will come in part balls, we think you will be able to get almost two 12" squares from a ball, so for those aiming to do two, we will send one and a half balls if that makes sense. And if we know you are a hooker will send smaller bits too.

Lovely MrsDeVere Solid colour or colour mix, tis entirely up to you.

Thank you everyone, we are blown away by the response.