Trim man's volunteerism to be recognised at awards

A Trim man has been nominated as an Outstanding Volunteer for the Ireland Involved Awards, which recognises and celebrates volunteer work in Ireland. Tomás Carolan has been nominated in the the International Development Category for his dedicated work with the Chernobyl Children Outreach Project in Trim. Since 1997, Tomás has been a volunteer with the project and has taken on increasing levels of responsibility. Since 2001, he has become both a lead volunteer and fundraiser. For Tomás, his volunteer work has personal connections. In 1996, his mother, Ann, who sadly passed away in recent years, set up the Trim Outreach group for Chernobyl Children International to bring children to the area for a rest and recuperation holiday. Tomás began helping with day trips and events for the children during their time in Ireland. The Trim Outreach group brings on average 20 children to Ireland from Belarus each summer for a month. These visits are especially important to the children's health as they receive medical and dental treatment which can add up to two years to their lives. The group fundraises throughout the year to pay for the children's flights from Belarus to Ireland. As a volunteer, Tomás helps with annual street collections and fundraising events and has even traveled to Belarus on a humanitarian aid convoy of 14 trucks and 25 ambulances in 2004 and 2006. Currently, he is trying to organise a team of volunteer tradesmen and women to go out to Belarus and work on orphanages that are in need of repair. In 1998, Tomás's parents began the process of adopting his now little sister, Raisa. "This cemented the charity in our family's hearts and minds forever," he said. While Tomás' mother has sadly passed away, Tomás, along with his brother and sister, continue the dedicated work that their mother started with Chernobyl International. In April of this year, a posthumous presidential award was given in memory of Ann Carolan to her adopted daughter Raisa, who is one of the organisation's youngest volunteers. Mrs Carolan worked tirelessly for the organisation, helping underprivileged children in Belarus, as well as giving Raisa a second chance at life in Ireland. Raisa, who was born with physical impairments that denied her the ability to walk or eat properly, was found in a home for abandoned babies in Belarus. After 24 operations, she now manages to play basketball from her wheelchair and wants to dedicate her life to helping children with great physical challenges, just like those she has battled all her life. Each volunteer will be recognised at the prestigious Ireland Involved Awards ceremony at Dublin Castle on Monday 5th December. President Michael D Higgins will open the evening's celebrations, with RTE's Claire Byrne presenting the awards.