The STEPPE UP for Ukraine fundraising cycling event was held on Saturday, July 23, 2022. The event was hosted at St. Mary's Ukrainian Catholic Church, 6248 Main St, Niagara Falls, ON.

In conjunction with the cycling event, we are hosting an online silent auction, which is running from July 23 to August 24th. Thank you to everyone who donated items for the auction! Click here to view and participate in the STEPPE UP for Ukraine Online Silent Auction.

To see photos of the cycling event and to keep up with announcements, please follow STEPPE UP for Ukraine on Instagram.

Why

The people of Ukraine are suffering. Russia has invaded and families are fleeing their homes. Having become refugees in their own land, Ukrainians fear for their lives and the lives of their children. Assistance is urgently needed for relocation support and to provide humanitarian and medical assistance for victims of the war.

What

Participate in a scenic, *self guided* tour of the Niagara region. Starting with a brief ceremony and blessing at St. Mary's Ukrainian Church in Niagara Falls, stopping by notable Ukrainian sites along the way, and ending the loop with some nourishing home-made Ukrainian food! There are two routes to choose from: a 19km route for those who want to get out for a spin and have some fun while supporting a great cause; or a longer route that takes you to Rosewood Estates Winery and back for those who are looking for something more intense (120km loop). We will be kicking-off our ONLINE SILENT AUCTION at our in-person event, with some of our auction items on display.

How

We are capping this event at 100 riders, organized in *self-guided* waves by distance and speed (much like a regular weekly group ride, where each rider respects the rule of the road). Our fundraising goal for this event is $30,000 CAD. We will raise funds by: individual rider donations and/or individual rider fundraising (required for registration), food sales, and an online silent auction. If you cannot participate at the event, but still want to contribute, there are other opportunities to do so. You can: make a donation to a team-member‘s fundraising page, provide sponsorship, or donate to- or buy an item from the online silent auction. Funds raised will go directly to support urgently-needed humanitarian efforts in Ukraine via the registered Canadian-Ukrainian charity, Help Us Help.

Sponsors

Thank you to all our amazing sponsors for your support. Please text/call Christyna Prokipchuk (437-223-6268) if you are interested in sponsoring the cycling event next year!

Atomic Heating & Cooling Ltd. - for sponsoring the custom volunteer t-shirts and the Ukrainian flag ribbons for each cyclist

BCU Financial - for donating all the Ukrainian flags for our event, including at the church, water stations, and in participant swag bags

Future Bakery - for donating freshly-baked Ukrainian goods for the day start

J & J Florist - for hosting a water station on our 120km route

junxion124 - for branding and marketing services

Pioneer Flower Farms, Ltd. - for donating sunflowers to decorate our venue (church and water stations)

Print Plus Sign - for donating the beautiful branded vinyl signs & stickers

Robert Nowell - for donating his photography skills & services

Ryeka Sport - for donating hydration mix for the 120km route halfway point

Rosewood Estates Winery - for hosting a special halfway stop on the long route, and donating to the silent auction

St. Davids Hydroponics - for donating healthy, locally-sourced vegetables for the event day

St. Mary's Ukrainian Catholic Church - for the venue, ceremony, and food

How do I sign up?

Click on this link and follow the instructions to complete your registration.

What is the cycling route?

We have two route lengths: 19km and 120km.

Click here for information on the 19km route.

Click here for information on the 120km route.

F.A.Q.

Click here to review our frequently asked questions.

About Help Us Help

Help Us Help is currently responding to urgent needs on the ground in Ukraine. Since the beginning of the invasion, Help Us Help has:

- Responded to urgent requests from volunteer medics and first responders in Ukraine by procuring and distributing urgently requested medical supplies.

- Supported the relocation of its past and present program participants, who were located in high-risk areas, to safer locations.

- Responded to humanitarian requests from past program participants and leaders of residential institutions and orphanages who care for Ukraine’s vulnerable children.

Founded in 1993, Help Us Help is a federally registered Canadian charitable organization (891205940RR0001) focused on humanitarian aid and educational projects in Ukraine. Help Us Help’s mission is to provide the tools, training and resources that improve the lives of Ukraine’s disadvantaged children and conflict-affected veterans, enabling them to become fully contributing members of society.

Fine Print

Each participant agrees to take the necessary precautions to mitigate any risk(s) associated with participating in whichever activity they choose to partake in. This is a *SELF GUIDED* initiative. Help Us Help does not condone the gathering of large groups to train for, participate in, or celebrate the completion of the event activities. To be eligible for participation, individuals must agree that they assume all risks that come with their activity of choice and must agree to a waiver, through the hyperlinked form in Step 1.