Bono presents Ali Hewson and Adi Roche with the Princess Grace Humanitarian Award at gala event in Monaco

Adi Roche, Bono, and Ali Hewson in Monaco as Ali and Adi are presented with the 2015 Princess Grace Humanitarian Award

Aoife Kelly

Adi Roche and Ali Hewson have been presented with the 2015 Princess Grace Humanitarian Award, one of the leading global humanitarian awards.

Adi, the founder and CEO of Chernobyl Children International (CCI) and CCI patron and board member Ali Hewson were awarded in recognition of their achievement in helping the organisation to raise over €100 milloin since the disaster.

Prince Albert was due to present the award but his trip had to be cancelled at the last minute due to severe electrical storms which struck the Riviera.

However, in a statement, he said, "There is a calling for us all in life but some just hear that more than others.  Adi Roche and Ali Hewson are clearly among those and their response to that call has given hope where there was none.  I know that their calling is as strong as ever and the need likewise.  I wish them every encouragement and success going forward.”

Adi Rocheand Ali Hewson in Monaco after they were presented with the 2015 Princess Grace Humanitarian Award

Instead Ali's husband and U2 frontman Bono presented the award along with President of the Ireland Fund of Monaco Olivia Gaynor-Long.

Also, in a message read out at the event, President Michael D. Higgins said,  “This is a well-deserved accolade, honouring their great dedication to the children of Chernobyl. Chernobyl Children International was founded on a deep spirit of generosity, recognising the common humanity which binds us all.  It has enabled the citizens of Ireland to reach out for many years in solidarity and support with those in our international community whose lives and futures were so drastically changed by the nuclear accident in Chernobyl on 26th April 1996.

“The commitment and hard work of Adi and Ali has ensured that the people of Ireland have never forgotten the children of Chernobyl.”

The Ireland Fund of Monaco event was attended by a capacity crowd of over 500 people.

On receiving the award Adi Roche said, “We are eternally grateful to the Ireland Fund of Monaco, to Prince Albert and to so many people who have supported us here tonight.  We accept the award in the name of the Children of Chernobyl who are so often forgotten and relegated to history but who are still very much a part of the unfolding tragedy that is Chernobyl.”

Ali Hewson added, “We are immensely proud to receive this award but Adi and I know that it belongs to the Irish volunteers and supporters of CCI over the three decades since the accident. All that CCI has achieved is due to their dedication”.