THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, June 26, 1996 TAG: 9606250124
SECTION: ISLE OF WIGHT CITIZEN PAGE: 08 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ALLISON T. WILLIAMS, CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: SMITHFIELD LENGTH: 55 lines
Since arriving in America, Andrei Kazakov, 13, of Russia has discovered Wal-Mart, fished the James River and spent endless hours riding a bike, swimmimg and playing baseball.
At the same time, the Smithfield visitor has escaped the industrial contamination that is harming so much of his generation's health.
Through a program to help such children, Trinity United Methodist Church has brought eight Russian youngsters and their chaperon/interpreter to breathe the fresh air and eat healthy meals in Isle of Wight County.
Russian physicians believe radiation and industrial contamination are to blame for the astounding increase in patients - especially children - who suffer from such conditions as asthma, chronic bronchitis and other respiratory ailments. Steel mills, sulfur plants and oil wells built decades ago are still operating in the countries that make up the former Soviet Union, including Russia, often without environmental safeguards.
Steve Butler, a United Methodist minister in Emporia, says a Russian study completed 15 years ago indicates that people who leave a contaminated environment for just two weeks a year could live 25 percent longer in a contaminated area.
So four years ago, Butler began working with the Russian United Methodist Church to bring children plagued by environment-related illnesses to the United States for two weeks.
``It has been shown that two weeks of fresh air, good food, low stress and a loving environment in effect jump-starts the immune systems of these children for a year,'' Butler said. ``In other words, it adds a year to their lives.''
The congregation of Trinity has planned a fun-filled two weeks of weeks of rest and relaxation for these young international travelers, said Becky Gwaltney, who helped coordinate the church's participation in the program.
``None of these children is sick,'' said Gwaltney, ``but studies show that the health of 98 percent of the children living in the areas of Russia where they are from is at risk.''
The children all come from heavily industrialized cities: Moscow, Tomsk, Poldosk and Ekaterinburg.
So far, the group has gone to Busch Gardens and visited local historic sites in Smithfield. Before they leave on July 8, the youngsters will also be day-tripping to the Outer Banks, Water Country USA and Virginia Beach, Gwaltney said.
``This is fun,'' Andrei said during a recent picnic lunch at the Smithfield Fire Department. ``And do I miss my parents? No, no!''
Maria Tretiakova, 10, said she also was having a good time visiting her new American friends. ``People are nice here,'' she said.
Most of the children are staying with families in the Smithfield congregation. ILLUSTRATION: Photo by ALLISON T. WILLIAMS
Russian youngsters and their American friends toured the Smithfield
Fire Department. by CNB