On 24 February, I woke up to the sound of air raid sirens. The three years that I had spent living and working in Ukraine came to an abrupt end. I am fortunate enough to be able to simply return to the UK, but for others the situation is much more desperate. This summer, I am going to travel 3000km from the UK to Ukraine entirely by bicycle to raise money for War Child, a charity which seeks to ensure a safe future for children affected by war. Any contributions, be it financial or by sharing this page, would be greatly appreciated and put to good use.

Your donations

These are a few of the things that your donation will help to do for those fleeing Ukraine:

• Ensure the safeguarding of unaccompanied children and highly vulnerable children, such as those with disabilities

• Provide direct services to survivors of sexual violence and prevent traffickers from targeting the refugee population

• Provide specialist psychological first aid training to frontline workers and teachers to deal with the unique needs of children who have witnessed conflict

War Child has also been providing protection, education and standing up for the rights of children in Asia, Africa and the Middle East for well over 2 decades. For more information: https://www.warchild.org.uk/

I am funding the trip expenses entirely from my own pocket, so all donations will go directly from Justgiving to War Child where they can make a positive difference. In the event that I am unable to complete the trip, donations will still go to the charity. If you are a UK taxpayer, selecting the Gift Aid option allows War Child to receive an additional 25% at no extra cost to you.

About me

My name is Mitch, I’m from the Lake District, and for the past 3 years I’ve been working in Kyiv as an English teacher. On 24 February, I woke up to the sound of air raid sirens. The life that I had enjoyed in Ukraine had disappeared in an instant and I joined the crowds of millions heading towards the border. After sitting in a car for 3 days, I was finally out of Ukraine and on my way back to the UK. 

Stories of war seem very different when they happen to people and places that you are familiar with. I personally know several people who have been devastated by the conflict. It’s surreal to see footage of fighting on the street outside the university where I had been working just a few days before, and to see pictures of the hotel in Chernihiv where I had stayed twice, now just rubble, having being destroyed in an air raid. It doesn’t feel right to just pack up, leave, and just continue on like normal while so many people suffer, so I’m doing this trip to hopefully give a chance to those who, through no fault of their own, have been caught up in conflict.

The trip

Starting in early June 2022, I’m going to cycle around 3000km (∼2000 miles) from London in Southeast England to Lviv in Western Ukraine. The distance will be covered entirely with leg power, no motors allowed (with the exception of crossing the English Channel). The route will take me through the UK, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Czechia, Poland and Ukraine. I expect it to take at least a month. The trip will be low budget and accommodation will be basic, mostly wild camping with the equipment carried on my bicycle. You will be able to follow my progress with trip updates on the Instagram and Facebook pages for this trip.

https://www.facebook.com/londontolviv/

Instagram: @londontolviv

I am grateful for any support through donations or sharing this page on social media. Contributions of any amount will help to provide support to vulnerable people who need it.

Thank you!

Mitch