I'm sure all of you, like me, are devastated watching the situation in Eastern Europe from afar, feeling helpless. One of my best friends from University, Maria, is Romanian and lives in Bucharest. Being a bordering country, they are super close to what is happening. Through the collectives and organisations they are already part of that support community around housing, LGBTQ+ issues and the creative arts, they have been very involved in the gigantic effort to help refugees fleeing Ukraine. I've been talking to them a lot about what we can do to help, where can safely accept donations and the most reliable infrastructures to support.

They have advised "Operation Solidarity" which is working across the border. They are helping all people who need it, and are particularly attuned to the situation for black, indigenous and people of colour who are being pushed aside as they flee their homes. Please see their website here https://operation-solidarity.org/border/. Maria's smaller collective "Filaret 16" in Bucharest are collaborating with Operation Solidarity to give better support in the city and help people coming to Bucharest, and their advice is to send funds directly to Operation Solidarity where there is the best infrastructure and the most need.

Next week my Dad is racing in the Engadin Marathon in Switzerland, 42km cross-country ski (the one where you sometimes go UP hill, very rarely down..), in a place in the mountains he loves and has taken me ever since I was a child (some pictures below). I have decided to get on a train and join him to raise money for this cause. Please sponsor me to get to the end, I'll need all the encouragement I can get! The race is on the 13th of March - more info about it here: https://www.engadin-skimarathon.ch/en/

And this is a cause I really believe needs the right kind of help, in the right place.

All the money we raise will go directly to those who need it. As Operation Solidarity have an international bank account which can't be added to Just Giving I will collect the money over the next week and keep sending it in bank transfers. You can also donate directly to them on their page. Anything you feel you can give would be HUGELY appreciated. Thank you!

From top: messages between Maria and I, us in Cambridge 2014, first time on snow with my Dad in the valley, my first race, and a recent conversation with Maria about the situation at the border.