Which organisation do you work for?
The Chernobyl Children Lifeline

What sort of voluntary work do you do, and where?
We're the most western link of the organisation in the UK - there are over 100 links in Wales, Scotland and England. We bring children over from the Chernobyl area, which is still very badly effected following the nuclear accident, to spend a little time in our cleaner air.

I spend a lot of time fundraising to bring the children over each year. I work at the Glan Gwna Holiday Park, near Caernarfon and we arrange two events each year to raise funds. I also give presentations on the organisation.

Then, once a year, three groups of about six children and their teacher from Belarus come over and one child stays with us for a month. We take them out to see the Holyhead lifeboat and the Caernarfon Male Voice Choir come and have a singsong. We also go and visit the local fire station and have a day out at RAF Valley.

They are also seen by a local dentist and optician, as they don't have access to very high standards of treatment in and around Chernobyl.

How did you get started?
A number of children from Chernobyl were brought to stay at the holiday park by the Oldham link. Then, when the link in Ffestiniog closed I decided to start one in Waunfawr and Caernarfon.

How long have you been a volunteer?
About three years.

Are there any special skills you need to be a volunteer?
You've got to be patient. They're children, they have very little English and they live in very different conditions to us. The area is extremely poor and they arrive with all their things in a plastic bag - but they are still very proud people.

They're also not used to the way we eat. One little girl who's coming again this year, used to go to a school where they fed her, because there wasn't enough money to eat properly at home. But when she moved school and dinners weren't provided, she ended up in hospital.

There are also still side-effects from the nuclear disaster that happened in 1986 and the rates of childhood cancer are very high.

When they arrive, the children are very frightened and sometimes quite ill. But when they come to understand that we're friendly, they settle down and really enjoy themselves.

How many hours a week/month do you give?
I spend most evenings on my computer, researching ways of raising more funds and organising local events. Then we have one child to stay for a month each year.

What are the best, and worst things about being a volunteer?
The best thing is the connection you create with the children and their parents. They're always really grateful.

The hardest thing is trying to generate funds for the cause. It's really difficult raising the money - especially when you've worked so hard organising an event and it might go a bit flat. It can be quite disheartening.

How can others get involved?
You can get in touch with me, on 01286 650168 or 07717 111169. We'll send any literature you might need about our organisation.

We hold meetings every six weeks and anyone is welcome to join us to help think up ways of raising funds.

We also put a plea out for school equipment - pens, pencils, chalk - because the schools are very poorly equipped.

See pictures of the 2004 children's visit.