Eight children from Chernobyl had their outlook boosted when a Stone opticians welcomed them to the branch and provided free eye tests and prescription glasses.
The youngsters felt right at home as optometrist Larisa Dorochtchak at Nusyte Opticians is Ukrainian and speaks Russian. The children thanked the team with flowers and chocolates.
The Stafford and Stone branch of the Chernobyl Children’s Project (UK) was offered the services of the branch on Adies Alley (part of 
Scrivens Opticians & Hearing Care) to help youngsters brought here for respite from the toxins that blight their lives. The children still face radiation associated illnesses as the legacy of the Chernobyl nuclear reactor disaster in 1986.
Branch manager Amy Jackson said: “We were happy to help. The children were lovely and we made the visit fun for them. The fact our optometrist is Ukrainian certainly put them at their ease. Five of the children were provided with new glasses.”
The children aged between ten and 12-years-old are in remission from various cancers and stay with local families for a month’s recuperative holiday. They enjoy a better environment, visit an optician and a dentist for basic, yet essential health check-ups, and join in a range of activities.
Margie Haslop, co-ordinator of the charity’s Stafford and Stone group, said: “We’re very grateful to Nusyte and Scrivens who have been so kind and generous over several years. They look after the children so well and their support really makes a difference.
“Coming to this country is a real adventure for the children. We see them blossom during their stay. Their skin tone improves. They sometimes gain weight and their stamina certainly increases. Perhaps the greatest benefit is the psychological one, for the children say they love to be here because they can forget about being ill. They can play with other children who understand how they feel and they can share their experiences with children their age, not adults.”
Scrivens Opticians & Hearing Care is a family owned business which was established in 1938. It has 182 stores in England and Wales and over 1,100 employees. For more information, visit www.scrivens.com
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