SKISLOPES: CHILDREN AND TEACHERS PRACTISING.




Initials GEP/V/CT/SS



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: WEST GERMAN CHILDREN WITH DEFORMITIES ATTRIBUTES TO THE DRUG THALIDOMIDE HAVE BEEN TAUGHT TO SKI MAINERZHAGEN NEAR COLOGNE TO HELP THEM LEAD AS NORMAL AND HEALTHY LIVES AS POSSIBLE.

MOST OF THE CHILDREN ON THE PROJECT WERE BORN WITH NO OR BADLY DEFORMED ARMS. BUT THEY HAVE LEARNT TO MANOUVRE ON THE SKIS ALONE, WITHOUT USING STICKS, ALMOST AS SKILFULLY AS THEIR TEACHERS CAN WITH STICKS. SOME OF THEM CAN EVEN WEAVE THROUGH OBSTACLES COURSES.

THE TRIAL IS STILL CONTINUING IN ALSDORK, WEST GERMANY, OF SEVEN MEMBERS OF THE PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANY OF CHEMIE-GRUENYHAL, WHICH MANUFACTURED THALIDOMIDE. THEY ARE CHARGED WITH CAUSING BODILY HARM AND WITH OFFENCES AGAINST THE WEST GERMAN DRUG LAWS. FOUR HUNDRED ALLEGED VICTIMS OF THALIDOMIDE ARE REPRESENTED IN THE CASE AS CO-PROSECUTERS. WHEN THE CASE OPENED IN JUNE 1968 AS THE RESULT OF A FIVE YEAR INVESTIGATION, IT WAS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE FOR ABOUT TWO YEARS.