MOST young children fall asleep cuddling their favourite teddy bear.
But for the Belarusian youngsters visiting Chester last week, this was a luxury they had never had before.
That was until the 9-12-year-olds, who are all in remission after being affected by the Chernobyl disaster, were taken to Build a Bear by members of the Rotary Club of Saughall.
One member Helen Thorniley-Jones, who took the children to the toy shop in the city centre last week said: “They were mesmerised by the whole thing, they thought it was wonderful.
“It was very emotional though. We had to keep turning round as we were welling up.”
The eight children spent a month in the UK on a trip organised by the charity, Chernobyl Children’s Lifeline.
As well as creating their own teddy bear, they have visited the zoo and the candle factory, rounding off their trip with a party hosted by the bishop of Chester’s wife.
The eight children all had cancer as a result of the Chernobyl Nuclear Disaster 25 years ago.
Helen said: “When they first arrive, they are tired a lot of the time. But the longer they are here, the better they get.”
