BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS
DATE:
06/11/2008
Runner to race from Darlington to Minsk
A BUILDING society director has set himself an unusual target of running 1,168 miles to raise money for youngsters from Chernobyl.
David Dodd, Darlington Building Society director and general manager, has set himself the goal because it is the distance from Darlington to Minsk.
It is 22 years since the Chernobyl nuclear disaster, in modern day Belarus. Every year, thousands of children from the area visit England with many coming to Darlington.
Mr Dodd, a member of Darlington Harriers Athletics Club, hopes to run the 1,168 miles in 12 months, the equivalent of 100 miles every month.
He said: "My aim is to raise sufficient money to be able to bring more children to Britain for recuperation in 2009.
"According to my calculations it is 1,168 miles from Darlington to Minsk. I will attempt to run that distance before the children are due here for their 2009 summer break.
"Although the target may seem daunting, I am really looking forward to completing the challenge."
It costs ?450 to bring a child over from Chernobyl; Mr Dodd hopes to raise at least ?1,800 to allow four children to visit.
Anyone who wishes to help can call into their local branch of the Darlington Building Society. Cheques can be made payable to Chernobyl Children's Project (UK).
Source:
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