I always said that I'd do one fundraising challenge each month in the year running up to my Bat Mitzvah. But today I have done an emergency challenge in order to raise money for people in the Ukraine. I know that not only are they at risk from bombing and invasion, but also, there is massive inflation and it's hard even to get hold of basic essentials or feed a family, things we take for granted. Everyone is fleeing and there's panic. I worry also about what will happen particularly to gay people as they are so badly treated in Russia. 

To raise money, I had my hair braided, which may not seem like much of a challenge - but for me, it's a huge ordeal because like many autistic girls, people even touching my hair or brushing it is terrible. I had my hair braided once before and it felt like claws across my head. 

Even if you think this wasn't a very hard challenge, please give money as the people in the Ukraine need to know that we're thinking of them as they hide in bomb shelters. 

You can see photos of the braiding and the final product below. Thank you to Claire at Claire's Braiding Bar for patience and hurting me when I wanted it to have increased suffering when she wanted to be gentle! https://www.facebook.com/clairesbraidbar

The money raised will go to WJR's Ukraine appeal, which will respond to the most urgent humanitarian needs as they arise, prioritising food, cash, medical, material, and psychological support for the worst affected, whether fleeing their homes or unable to escape violence. You can read about WJR's emergency response in the Ukraine via this link: https://www.worldjewishrelief.org/ways-to-donate/appeals/1267-ukraine-crisis-appeal