When Hibs visited Dnipropetrovsk in European competition in 2005, many fans took the time and trouble to visit a local children’s sanatorium, and were so moved by what they saw that a group of supporters determined that Hibs’ fans would do all they could to help and began to fund raise.
For 10 years supporters have run the Dnipro Kids Appeal, led by Stevie Carr, raising tens of thousands of pounds to support children in Dnipro. Their efforts provide equipment, toys, and munch needed and morale boosting trips for the children. Stevie, as the charity’s Chairman, and the others continue to be magnificent ambassadors fot the club, however their work would not have been possible without the efforts of the people “on the ground.”
Ira Polyashova has worked with the charity since the very start, and has been key to its many successes, but this week everyone connected to the charity were devastated to hear that Ira herself is now extremely ill.
Stevie said: “Last month I was informed by Ira that she has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. The outlook is not very good and the doctors have suggested that she may only have a few months left. This is especially difficult to take for us involved with Dnipro Kids as Ira has been a part of Dnipro Kids since our very first visit in 2005, where she acted as translator during the handing over of gifts to the children at the TB Sanatorium.
“Since that day she has been an integral part of the charity, and the organiser for so many events and tasks in Dnipropetrovsk. She has been a tower of strength for us, and often had to stand up to the red-tape and bureaucracy to ensure nothing got in the way of organising trips and events for the kids.
It has been down to Ira that many sponsored kids have had so many enjoyable excursions and birthday trips over the years. Ira has been at the heart of the planning and organisation of the many trips and birthday events that have been organised, right down to the shopping required to ensure that each child received the exact birthday gift that they wanted.
The Dnipro Kids committee are fully committed to supporting Ira during such a difficult time, and will assist her in whatever way we can.”
The committee has established a justgiving page after receiving messages asking how Ira can be supported through this enormously difficult time in a country where medical help falls far short of the support that we enjoy in the UK, and where huge stress is being placed on hospitals and medical facilities by the country’s ongoing troubles.
Anyone wishing to help should visit.
John graduated from Telford College in 2010 with an HNC in Practical Journalism and since then he worked for the North Edinburgh News, The Southern Reporter, the Irish News Review and The Edinburgh Reporter. In addition he has been published in the Edinburgh Evening News and the Hibernian FC Programme.
