Times Advocate, 1993-01-20, Page 8IN
,•(k
LLA
►ON.
NE RO ... YOUR
ENTIRE HOME!
CHOOSE FROM1WER 100 CARPETS!
...What's right, your installation is only $49.00. We have asked several of
ourinajor flooring suppliers for help in making this incredible offer. The
norelou.buy, the more we install for $49.00. This is not a gimmick, and
no.wefiaven't built the cost into the price of the flooring. The flooring
you purchase during this sale is the same low price you would have paid
.ortolthe sale and is the same low price you will pay after the sale.
Nowthat's Dinney value. See any Dinney flooring consultant for details.
op quality flooring from leading manufacturers
such as:
Rdniond-
tom'
BARRYMORE
QUEEN CARPET
HARDING sik CARPETS
v,N,�.E �,S �oNr,��a,,,o LYDIAN
URE
Coenet
Gerflor�
DOI�rICO
PHILADELPHIA CARPETS
INSTALLATION INFORMATION
Basic carpet installation is $49.00. Installation of vinyl is
$49.00 plus $2.00/yd. Installation over concrete, take up and
hauling of existing flooring, custom and stair upholstery extra.
Padding and metals not included. This special can not be used
in conjunction with other store specials.
All
Remnants 50' off
OFF ALL Hunter Douglas
-MINI BLINDS 41/ERTICALS
;.ow Free Installation (exp. Feb. 28)
-, "Quality, Service and Guaranteed Lowest Prices
l for over 100 years"
Fine Furniture,
Flooring an4 Window Fushiono
4404011.1 •,
Page 8
Times -Advocate, January 20, 1993 "'Y AA
14
Team Joy participants Dorothy Chapman, left, and Leslie Switzer recently travelled to Minsk,
Belarus to offer friendship and support to suffering children.
L:o�al women bring joy
to Belarussian children
By Kellie Ercoli
T -A Staff
EXETER - Just before Christmas,
Dorothy Chapman of Exeter and
Leslie Switzer of Kirkton went on a
trip. It was nota vacation of relax-
ation, but rather a journey of love.
They wanted to, make a difference
in a country where children suffer.
On November 23 Chapman and
Switzer, with seven others, left for
Belarus, a former state of Russia
This group, "Team Joy," journeyed
to Minsk to provide humanitarian
aid and support to those effected by
the lingering devastation of the
Chernobyl disaster
On April 26, 1986, the Chernobyl
nuclear plant exploded, sending
shock and fear throughout the
world. Almost seven years later,
while most of the world, uneffect-
ed, have forgotten, many are still
suffering and struggling from the
catastrophe. Children were espe-
cially hard-hit with radiation poi-
soning their developing bodies.
More than three -million people
continue to live in areas contami-
nated by dangerously high levels of
radiation and most of the food
available to them have been pro-
duced on contaminated soil.
A news release in 1991 indicated
that the incidence of childhood he-
matological disorders has risen 300
percent in the effected areas of
Belarus, Russia and Ukraine.
Many children suffer from recur-
ring headaches, nosebleeds, hair -
loss and increased susceptibility to
pneumonia, tuberculosis and infec-
tion as a result of radiation -reduced
immune system response.
Chapman and Switzer became in-
volved with the Canadians Con-
cerned for the Children of Cherno-
byl, London Chapter and over the
past summer helped raise local
funds to support their humanitarian
effort in Belarus. According to
Chapman, a former registered
nurse, caseworker and politician,
fundraising for the Boletus trip
took a variety of forms. She em=
barked on speaking engagements in
tl
area to inform people of the se-
rius situation that the Belarussian
people face. She also held work-
shops that provided the opportunity
for those interested to learn more
about their plight.
Switzer, a former child life spe-
cialist, was also actively involved
in raising both funds and aware-
ness. She organized a Children of
the World Day so that area children
could learnt more about Belarus-
sian, Japanese, Native Indian and
African children. Both Chapman
:and Switzer were busy with many
speaking engagements prior to their
trip and were pleased by the sup-
port of the community.
This arca was tremendously sup-
portive of Leslie and me. The com-
munity was very interested and
generous in their donations," Chap-
man said.
She explained that monies gener-
ated in the fundraising went toward
humanitarian aid (medical aid such
at Tylenol, syringes, vitamins, etc.),
and the cost of the trip. The volun-
teers each stayed with individual
families and paid them an honorari-
um for their hospitality.
"Their way of life is certainly dif-
ferent than it is here. I'll bet you've
never had pumpkin porridge!"
Chapman stated, giving an example
- of some breakfast fare.
"It is eery different. 1 had spa-
ghetti and sausage for breakfast,"
Switzer said.
The women, with Team Joy spent
nine days visiting ill children in
hospitals and boarding schools,
which are essentially institutions
:for abandoned children. According
4o Switzer, people from the area not
only donated money, but many of
them made things for the Team to
take with them: colourful stream-
ers, finger puppets, treatment dolls
and yarn dolls.
"One woman in London knitted
95 pairs of rainbow -coloured mit-
tens for the children," said Switzer.
Chapman added that another big
hit with the young patience was the
500 Canadian flags that the Exeter
Legion donated.
"They loved the flags and wanted
us to sign them There are Canadi-
an flags all over Minsk," Chapman
stated.
Switzer explained that the experi-
elwe was very overwhelming since
there were so many children with
English.
"It didn't matter. The children
knew what we, and the songs were
about. The song, 'If you're happy
and you know it', is pretty easy to
figure out," Switzer said.
Their trip was also filled with
sadness and helplessness. Switzer
hells of her encounter with one little
:girl, Marina who suffered from
brain cancer.
"It's not just the children—
parents have emotional needs es
well. I spoke with Marina's mother
who told me that of her three chil-
dren, one had already died, one was
. dying of cancer, and she had sent
he ...third child to Germany to es-
-cape death. She .said to me; 'my
house is empty.' It was very sad,"
Switzer said.
She explains that Team Joy trav-
elled to Belarus out of friendship,
to share joy and love in an area
where the need is so phenomenal.
Chapman and Switzer are now
Russia
Moscow •
T•A Gt1ohx
so many emotional, spiritual and
mental needs. One of Team Joy's
main initiatives is Project Joy that
extends friendship and caring to the
children. The play program created
a joyful, loving, safe environment
for the children where they could
play and sing songs.
, "There is definitely a real need
for the program there. It was very
heartwarming to see a room of 200
children come alive when we came
in," Switzer said.
She explainedt they had trans-
lators,. but it did matter to the
children that they spoke English
and that most of the songs were in
preparing for more speaking en-
gagements to inform the communi-
ty of what they did in Belarus.
They have a slide presentation that
illustrates some of the joy and mis-
ery in the country. Chapman is
presently trying to get addresses of
publishing companies that will
translate self-help books, such as
stressAnanagement, into Russian to
further assist the people.
"I believe that every child and
person have the right to a better lift
and to know that they are special,"
stated Switzer who added that ,her
role as a parent helped her reach
out to the Belarussian children.
SUNWORTHY.
WALLCOVEj1NGS
All Instock Wallcoverings
788
a.r. Sale s.r. Sale ends Jan. 31193
Exeter DecorCentr
1 ',,, '..!, l U' 1(.
I• .t...."f. ' 1o•1v' `fi t .n,%ilr