Ever felt helpless? Ever wondered if your cash donations always get through? Well we've found a solution - and you can be part of it.

Hello! We are David & Simon, two friends moved by the situation in Ukraine. Let us tell you the story. It begins with Simon, but ends with both of us and... well, it's still unfolding. But let's go back to the beginning.

Like so many of us, they had watched grimly as war returned to Europe. Simon had been to Ukraine twice and was already doing some volunteering with refugees in London. He wanted to lend a hand but also do some fact finding; to see things for himself and if he could be of use. So he went to the Polish-Ukrainian border where he met ordinary Ukrainians who were just in the wrong place at the wrong time and saw how much they appreciated any help as they fled the war.

His heart went out at the sight of newly-arrived kids with their mothers at the train station or at the volunteer-run overflow shelter (below). In places like that he met incredible volunteers who dropped everything to set up these spaces and deliver food and basic medical supplies, while governments etc moved slowly. There was still a lot of need in Oct and that was *before* winter and electricity cuts arrived...

Amazing grassroots logistics networks had sprung up. They are still delivering vital basics to people in Ukraine's villages and towns, working with locals to establish what is needed. Vans arrived from across Europe and usually the aid was useful, but not always. Also the rising cost of diesel and ferries ate into the money that people had worked hard to raise.

But then Simon saw an adventurous Canadian who'd flown in with only a bank card, spending their funds in Poland and Ukraine where the money went further (!). Then they accompanied the aid to its end destination in Ukraine. They had receipts to show where the money had gone, photographs from the places they had delivered it to and first-hand testimony of funds well spent. A good and transparent model!

He resolved to do the same. But it seemed daunting on his own. Who would jump at the chance to do something? Who had the energy and the drive and the enthusiasm? David!

A brilliant friend – and fitness fanatic – David was immediately keen to be involved and had lots of ideas and insight. Together, they're doing fitness challenges to keep this in the news and raise money for aid they will either deliver directly or hand over to people they know will do that. The target is early Feb, so you can still donate.

You can watch their various fitness challenges coming this winter – or you can even get involved! The more the merrier :) They're going to share their fitness exploits on the Facebook page and the Instagram page for several reasons:

1) To raise funds for direct aid 2) To remind people what is happening in Ukraine 3) To inspire others go get involved or challenge themselves 4) To bring people into their initiative so you can feel part of this small but important effort 5) So people know what happened if Simon doesn't come back from one of David's crazy challenges!

Join them on 8th December for a Talkaoke special with brilliant international artists collective The People Speak . Sign up for the online event link here and more info below:

Thanks for reading. Wish them luck. They hope you'll be part of this.

Love, Simon & David

PS big thanks to illustrator Sarah Finke for the logo! It's beautiful. Also to the people who welcomed Simon in Poland like Volunteer Housing Initiative and the Hope Foundation . You can also donate to them!