Irish stars turned out in force on Friday for ‘Liz and Noel’s Chernobyl Lunch’ at the Intercontinental Hotel to raise vital funds for Adi Roche’s Chernobyl Children International charity (CCI).
The fundraiser is hosted by Liz O’Donnell (Former Minister of State) and Noel Kelly (Businessman, Talent Manager) who have played a pivotal role in supporting the charity to reach its goals over the past two decades as voluntary members of the Chernobyl Children International (CCI) Board of Directors, which also includes Ali Hewson.
Some of the stars who offered their support to the charity on the day were broadcasters Ryan Tubridy and Kathryn Thomas, Dancing With The Stars Judge Arthur Gourounlian, financial guru Eoin McGee, as well as Room to Improve’s Dermot Bannon.
Speaking to an audience of over 400 people, Founder and Voluntary CEO of CCI Adi Roche paid tribute to the generosity of the guests on the day, whose vital support enables CCI to continue its humanitarian work in the Chernobyl regions;
“Today, you enable us to rededicate our efforts to further alleviate the suffering …we renew our commitment not to give up! Not to stand idly by, but to stand up, speak out and give witness by remaining at the frontline of humanitarian efforts…thank you!”
Roche also shared how the intensifying war and recent attack on the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Station has potentially terrifying consequences;
“Following the Valentines Day attack on Chernobyl, our worst nightmare in this terrible conflict is that a second Chernobyl disaster could be unleashed on the world. This area of the highly damaged Chernobyl nuclear reactor and its shield is an area of utter vulnerability and danger, a special area of human tragedy, which could once again, have radioactive contamination released which would spread everywhere with deadly consequences.”
Guests also heard from a victim of the Chernobyl disaster, a young woman whose life was transformed by the charity. Olga Salauyova was born with physical and cognitive disabilities, which resulted in her family abandoning her to an institution at birth. Olga’s life was transformed when she was discovered and subsequently rescued by Adi and CCI Volunteers. She came to Ireland on CCI’s ‘Rest and Recuperation Programme’, and Adi arranged for Cappagh Hospital to take on Olga’s case pro-bono to give her access to surgeries that weren’t available to her in Belarus. During this time, Olga felt the love of a family for the first time, and as a result of her surgeries, Olga was eligible for fostering and to escape the harsh conditions of the institutions. Adi found a very loving foster family for Olga through CCI’s ‘Homes of Hope Programme’, and the foster parents eventually adopted Olga as their own daughter. This adoption meant that Olga has been able to retain her ‘rights’ which would have been stripped of her had she remained in institutions. Without the fostering and adoption, Olga would have been sent to a prison-like adult mental asylum once she reached the age of 18. However, she told the guests at the lunch how she now lives a very happy life, surrounded by love and has a future of freedom and opportunity.
Businesses from all over the country showed their support for the charity lunch with weekend breaks at a selection luxury resorts, beauty treatments and jewellery all up for grabs in the raffle on the day. A selection of exclusive auction items went under the hammer, including artworks from Brian Eno and Damien Hirst as well as a pair of Bvlgari Sunglasses donated by U2 frontman Bono with an accompanying autographed leather case, in hopes of raising as much funds for the charity as possible.
