Since 24th February, like the rest of the world, I've been watching the invasion of Ukraine. As the days and weeks passed I realised that this is an atrocity that will change the 21st century and it will affect all of us. I was born in Czechoslovakia which used to share borders with Ukraine. When the war started a lot of my friends initiated all sorts of help for Ukrainian refugees and for Ukraine.

My motivation? I want to help the people suffering from this terrifying war that is happening on the doorstep of my own home.

Over the past ten years, I have been working in health care, dedicating my life to those in acute need and I was lucky to meet so many incredible people who are now serving and helping directly on the territory of Ukraine or the borders. Thanks to them I know first-hand how alarming, grim and difficult the situation with medical supplies, medicine and medical equipment is. People across the lifespan in Ukraine are deprived of their life-saving medicines, and hospitals battle every day to provide care for their patients with very limited medical equipment and supplies.

For this reason, I want to use the huge potential of our community! This wonderful community of QMU friends, students and members of staff gives me hope that together we can do something incredible and raise money that can supply so much needed medical aid!

I was joined by Sarah Proudfoot who is the most enthusiastic person helping me to start this project and together we are setting up a Challenge to promote our fundraiser.

The Challenge is for anyone who wants to be involved and do some good.

The distance to Get 2 Safety.

Anytime within one month period, from 25th April until 31st May we want people to join us to collectively conquer the 785 miles width of Ukraine, the distance from the Eastern to the Western Ukrainian borders.

Everyone who joins the challenge can contribute and add miles by running, walking or cycling. We will ask our supporters to share with us any distance they conquered during the period of the fundraiser by sending us print screens of their tracking apps, so we can keep you updated about how far have we gotten so far!

The purpose of the challenge is to spread the awareness of this fundraiser and raise money that will buy medical supplies and delivered them to Ukraine.

We are hoping that our strong community of QMU staff, students, and friends help us to reach as many people as possible and together we will meet or even exceed our target!

Help us to spread our message, join the challenge, and donate to our cause!

Every mile, kilometre, even meter, counts! Every donation counts and there is no such a thing as a 'small' donation.

To join and register for the challenge and get more information send us an email at: get2safety@gmail.com

My sincere gratitude and thanks go to all people donating to our cause and to all people who support and stand with Ukraine!