UCC joins in Sail Chernobyl venture

A paragliding dive from the college's highest building, a "land-sail" around the campus and a juggling performance on stilts; …

A paragliding dive from the college's highest building, a "land-sail" around the campus and a juggling performance on stilts; these are some of the events planned at University College Cork today as part of the Sail Chernobyl venture.

The UCC Sail Chernobyl Fund aims to raise £10,000 which will go to the Chernobyl Children's Project.

The Coveney family, three of whom have been or are studying at UCC, are currently sailing around the world in an effort to raise £1 million for the fund.

All of the money will go to help children still affected by the radioactive fall-out from the Chernobyl nuclear disaster in 1986.

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The UCC supporters have organised music, a disco and many other events to boost coffers.

The college sailing club is hosting a team racing event, called Sail Chernobyl Challenge, in Baltimore Sailing Club next weekend. The Coveneys' boat, The Golden Apple, has now reached Phuket in Thailand, and will spend the next month in Malaysian and Thai waters. It also intends to compete in the King's Cup sailing event in Phuket next month as part of the fund-raising effort.

The cyclone season is said to be "living up to its reputation", and the crew reported a vicious storm in the Indian Ocean within the past week.

The family's circumnavigation has aroused considerable interest among Irish school pupils, many of whom have been following progress on the vessel's website. The Sail Chernobyl fund-raising account number is Allied Irish Banks, South Mall, Cork, account number 11100050. The website is at http://aardvark-ipl.com/ccp/sail-chernobyl

Lorna Siggins

Lorna Siggins

Lorna Siggins is the former western and marine correspondent of The Irish Times