A cheque for $2,500 will go to fund health studies of the Port Hope Community Health Concerns Committee closer.

The donation, made by the Nuclear Environmental Watchdogs (NEW), drawn from funds raised during David Suzuki’s recent presentation at Port Hope High School, will go towards independent health studies of the people of Port Hope, explained NEW chair Chris Conti.

“Dr. Suzuki told us that we are the air, earth, fire and water,” he said. “It is important to know if years of sharing the air with emissions from the nuclear industry has affected the health of the people in Port Hope. ”He said an independent health assessment of local citizens is long overdue.

The health concerns committee, chaired by Faye More, is spearheading the biotesting of interested residents through the Uranium Medical Research Centre (UMRC).UMRC is an independent non-profit organization founded in 1997 to provide objective and expert scientific and medical research into the effects of uranium, transuranium elements, and radionuclides produced by the the process of uranium decay and fission.

While the UMRC is donating its scientific and medical expertise to this joint project with the health concerns committee, there are costs for such items such as laboratory testing. Ms. More’s committee began fund raising for this project in December.While fund raising efforts have been going well, she says the cheque certainly helps out since $25,000 is needed to get the project started. With NEW’s contribution, $4,000 is now in the committee’s pocket.

“While we are continuing with local fund raising, we will be coming up with other fund raising strategies,” she said. “We are still looking to Northumberland MPP Paul Macklin for federal assistance for this project.”Mr. Conti said his group plans to present the in front of Port Hope’s town hall on Tuesday, May 24 at 10 a.m.

Other funds raised during Dr. Suzuki’s visit will help other groups like Families Against Radiation Exposure and their fight against Cameco’s Corporation’s plans to process slightly enriched uranium.

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