Over 300 students sat attentively listening  to a presentation by Mrs Charlotte John from Chernobyl Children's Life Line. This charity raises funds which helps pay for things like basic medical treatment and sanitation in the schools. The Chernobyl disaster was a catastrophic nuclear accident that occurred on 26 April, 1986 at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in the town of Pripyat, Ukraine. An explosion and fire released large quantities of radioactive particles into the atmosphere, which spread over much of the western USSR and Europe, and the students heard about what happened on that fateful day and what happened afterwards. Charlotte explained the effects that the radiation had on the population and described how the Chernobyl children live today. Head girl Iona McGinn said, “ It was a really interesting presentation and Charlotte described the first hand experiences of the effects of what happened and the devastation caused.”  Mrs John said, “I visit Chernobyl three or four times a year with our charity and offer help where it is needed. Last year there was a gentlemen who had cancer in his leg, caused directly by the radiation. The cost of amputating his leg was only £300 but that is an awful lot of money there and he couldn’t afford it. We withdrew the funds and paid for the operation. To see this man, cancer free now, is amazing.”