Later today 35 Irish walkers will arrive in St Petersburg in Russia having completed a 200 km walk from Helsinki in Finland. The walkers have raised over £50,000 towards a residential project in the Hortolova orphanage in Russia.
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The orphanage in 1998.
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At today's event the Russian Ambassador to Ireland Mr Evgeny Mikhailov said he was delighted to support the work of the charity To Russia With Love which has been instrumental in providing greatercare in the daily lives of "forgotten children".
The charity was founded in 1998 by housewife Ms Debbie Deegan. "To Russia With Love strongly believes that the institution must fit the child and not the common belief that the child must fit the institution," she said.
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"As an organisation we are completely focused on the individual needs of each child as opposed to their collective needs. We are delighted with the response we received from the walkers and are grateful for the time and energy each of them have invested in theirfundraising.
"The funds raised will go directly into the residential building project. The children desperately need new living quarters as they currently reside in cold, dark and depressing warehouse-type accommodation," she said.
The group plans to build 10 purpose-built homes in the forest that will allow the children to develop a sense of belonging in a family environment.
