On 13 October, I'll be attempting to run the Kyiv "Unbroken" Half Marathon on Trukhaniv Island to raise funds for the Kharkiv and Przemyśl Project (KHARPP) and Brave to Rebuild, two organisations helping Ukrainians whose homes have been damaged or destroyed in Russian attacks. Several members of Goodgym Oxford and other friends have also registered to run their own distances in the UK on the same weekend.

KHARPP is a British charity founded in March 2022, initially to provide practical support on the Polish-Ukrainian border to people fleeing Russia's invasion of Ukraine (this task continued until March 2023). Since shortly after Kharkiv's liberation from Russian occupation in the autumn of 2022, KHARPP has been doing great work repairing houses, schools, and medical facilities in towns and villages close to the frontline in Kharkiv Region, as well as providing generators and fuel to communities with little or no reliable electricity. As the third full winter of the war approaches, KHARPP's current focus is on "winterising" the homes of remaining residents, particularly elderly people, who are unable to leave for safer areas of Ukraine - sourcing and fitting roofing materials and windows for buildings damaged by Russian shelling.

KHARPP's typical costs:

Single window replacement - £100

Basic home repairs - £500

Domestic generator - £1000

Photo © KHARPP

Brave to Rebuild (Smilyvi Vidnovlyuvaty) is a Ukrainian volunteer initiative established in March 2022, with the aim of clearing up and rebuilding after the destruction wrought by Russian troops in Kyiv Region. Every weekend, extraordinarily committed volunteers go to Bucha, Irpin, Hostomel, and other towns and villages whose names have become sadly synonymous with crimes against humanity, to clear rubble and undertake repairs to war-damaged homes. Brave to Rebuild volunteers have also cleared debris after more recent Russian attacks on Kyiv, as soon as search and rescue services have allowed them in - including after the missile strike on the Okhmatdyt children's hospital on 8 July.

Brave to Rebuild is currently fundraising to complete the reconstruction of a house in Hostomel - largely destroyed by a Russian shell - by the end of autumn. The homeowner, Ms. Olena, has been living in the ruins while she clears the debris with the help of volunteers. The aim is to equip the house with a traditional Ukrainian stove for the family to keep warm this winter.

Brave to Rebuild's costs:

Rebuilding Ms. Olena's home: £14,000 approx.

Monthly materials, equipment, vehicle hire for all projects: £4000 approx.

Photo © Vicky Arnold

I've spent time volunteering with both KHARPP and Brave to Rebuild, in Przemyśl and Irpin respectively, and I can attest to their dedication and effectiveness.

Photo © Lena Arsenii / Brave to Rebuild

As Russian attacks on Ukrainian civilian infrastructure intensify, power cuts persist, and temperatures fall, it's essential to ensure people can continue to survive in their homes - and just as essential to help Ukraine rebuild its towns and villages in the longer term.

For more information about KHARPP's work in Kharkiv Region, see https://kharpp.com

For more about Brave to Rebuild, go to https://bravetorebuild.in.ua/

To volunteer yourself, including with Brave to Rebuild, see https://www.volunteeringukraine.com/

Cover photo © KHARPP