The Edwards family
South West regional winner
The Edwards family
From: Ashprington, South Devon
When Joan
Edwards and her family opened up their home and their hearts to a
little girl affected by the Chernobyl disaster, they couldn't
have imagined the far-reaching effect it would have on the lives of
children in Belarus.
Anya Nebyshynets, now 13, first went to the family for a recuperative two-week holiday when she was five years old. She fitted in so well, she has returned for six weeks every Christmas and summer since. It's an experience that has inspired the Edwards family to raise over £30,000 - enough money to buy a house in Belarus and employ five qualified staff to care for Anya and her four 'brothers and sisters', who all came from the same orphanage for disabled children.
Joan started fostering Anya after replying to an advert asking for people to host children affected by the Chernobyl nuclear disaster. Anya, then 5, suffers from cerebral palsy and had never left her cot in the five years she'd been living in an orphanage. Although they had no prior experience of looking after disabled children, the family agreed to take her - and haven't looked back since.
Joan says, "When Anya first arrived she was as stiff as a board, but she smiled constantly. We all fell in love with her. It quickly became obvious that, with attention, she could be capable of a lot more, and we were asked to keep her until better care could be organised for her at home. She stayed with us for six months and we quickly started fundraising in order to buy a house for her and other disabled children in Belarus."
Fundraising has become a second full-time job for Joan - who owns a farm - and the family. All their spare time is spent organising fundraising events and altogether they have raised over £30,000, a figure that continues to grow.
Anya's regular visits over the past nine years have seen have seen her change from an immobile baby to a lively teenager who just needs a walking frame for support.
Joan says, "Meeting Anya has changed our lives completely. We certainly no longer moan about the small stuff! As a family, we've always been close, but now we have to pull and work together to both ensure that Anya has the best time possible when she's here, and to raise enough money to change lives for the better in Belarus."
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