What began as a 200-kilometre walk to raise funds for medical supplies in Ukraine has grown into a powerful campaign of hope and solidarity — and a reminder that the need remains as urgent as ever.
Oleksandr Kyyanytsya’s Gift of Walking from Calgary to Banff has now raised over $25,000 for Ukrainian hospitals, far exceeding the original goal of $20,000. Organizers have since raised the target to $30,000 by the end of August — and donations continue to come in.
But while the generosity has been heartening, the need on the ground in Ukraine has only intensified.
“People are still being injured and killed almost daily,” said Tetiana Prykhodko, president of the Cochrane Ukrainian Association, who has helped organize and support the campaign. “The attacks have spread to residential areas, including Kyiv, the capital. People are dying in their sleep — it’s devastating.”
She said a recent nighttime missile strike hit a residential district in Kyiv, the country's capital, leaving many civilians dead or severely injured.
“There is nowhere safe,” Prykhodko said. “The hospitals are overwhelmed. Doctors and nurses are working nonstop with limited supplies. That’s why every dollar we raise makes such a difference.”
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Funds from the campaign are being used to provide both critical medical equipment and essential daily-use items, such as bandages, gloves, and medications.
“These small items — the things used every hour and every minute — are just as crucial as the big machines,” said Prykhodko. “We’ve been in direct contact with hospital staff, and they’ve told us exactly what they need.”
The Cochrane Ukrainian community has been hands-on in supporting Kyyanytsya’s walk, from helping coordinate logistics to providing meals, accommodation, and encouragement along the way. Prykhodko was among them, driving him to his starting point in Calgary in early July. Cochrane's Ukrainian community has been working alongside the Ukrainian Canadian Congress – Calgary Branch.
“There’s still time to help,” said Prykhodko. “The war hasn’t gone away. The suffering hasn’t stopped. And the hospitals are still desperately in need.”
Donations can be made through the Gift of Walking fundraiser on GoFundMe.