To Russia with love

26th January 2009

http://www.boyzone.net/2009/01/to-russia-with-love/

Keith visited a Russian orphanage earlier this month to meet some autistic children and have some fun in the snow.

He spent a week in the orphanage at Hortolova in the Bryansk region of Russia, some 500 miles south of Moscow. The trip was arranged by the group, Irish Autism Action, of which Keith is a patron. The group says of Keith, “Not only has he proven himself to be a very effective fundraiser through events such as his Annual Ball & Celebrity Golf Day, everyone would agree that that he speaks from the heart and is an extremely articulate spokesperson who uses every opportunity he has to highlight, the lack of services and appropriate educational facilities for people with Autism”.

Judging by the photos, Keith had a great time with the kids in Russia and told us, “The whole experience was a completely life changing one and an amazing opportunity to go and spend time with these children whose lives are being helped so much by the charity To Russia With Love.These children have no families of their own and yet I was made to feel very welcome and part of their family. I can only hope that by taking our knowledge and expertise about autism over there we have done more to help improve these children’s lives.”