EAST Durham school pupils took to the running track yesterday in a bid to give two sick children a holiday away from their polluted home near Cheronbyl.

The students at Easington Community School competed in a sponsored fun run to help fund a five-week break for Veranika Patapenka and her nine-year-old brother, Sasha.

The brother and sister come from the Gomel region of Belarus, which still remains one of the most contaminated areas following the Chernobyl disaster.

It is believed that a holiday in clean air with good food could extend the life expectancy of the poorly children by at least ten years.

The plight of the Patapenkas was brought to the school's attention by PE teacher Lindsay McNicholas.

She had met Veranika when the 12-year-old spent a short holiday with Mrs McNicholas's sister in Scotland.

And once the gym teacher told pupils at Easington about the sick young girl there was a rush of volunteers to help raise the £520 needed for air fares to bring Veranika and Sasha on their life enhancing holiday.

Among those deeply touched by the Patapenka's sad story was 12-year-old Amy Brown, who is in the school's year eight.

She said: "The ground and air where they live are still very contaminated, food is sparse and money is hard to come by. The children are in poor health."

She said: "They suffer frequent colds, measles, chicken pox and occasionally hepatitis B breaks out.

"One visit to our country will dramatically improve their health and reduce radiation levels."

Pupils at Easington have already dug deep into their pocket money to boost the fund, and now they are hoping they will have got even nearer their target with the fun run.

To help make Veranika and Sasha feel even more at home during their stay pupils are having some basic lessons in Belarussian.

The visit is being arranged through the Chernobyl Children Life Line.