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Early in the MediShare International program, this plaintive postcard was received from Dr. Larry Pristavko, whose amateur radio call at the time was UC1AWG (now with his own call, UC2AAA - and a well-know DXer). He had heard about the new MARCO program.
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His request was published in the MARCO Newsletter, and response was immediate as many members responded individually and shipped quantities of the medications and vitamin products requested.
In subsequent communications, Larry explained that professionally he is a scientist (physicist) and medical doctor, and was the leader of a 'team' of scientists who were investigating and tracking the spread of radiation in the area of Chernobyl. As a personal project, he and his wife, Lydia, assumed custody of up to 17 children, orphaned by the Chernobyl disaster, all of whom (500,000 in Belarus alone) suffered radiation sickness of a varying degree. Dr. Pristavko explained he had no means for checking the children's food for radiation contamination, a grave problem, as most of the small farms in the area were heavily contaminated, yet were shipping food for consumption in the markets of Byelorussia. Over 70% of the radiation products fell on Byelorussia, whose capital is the very large city of Minsk.
MediShare quickly shipped a sensitive Geiger Counter to Larry, for specific use in the purchase of food for his family of orphans. And many MARCO members individually shipped medications, toys, and clothes for the children.
Addendum: MediShare learned that Dr. Pristavko has passed away,
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Robert C. Smithwick, DDS (W6CS)
Los Altos Hills, California