I am a Ukrainian who came to the UK after the Full-scale Russian Invasion, and for 2 years in this country, I have been balancing between building my life from scratch and trying to help Ukraine as much as I can. Now I'm going to run the Solway Coast Marathon on 30th June to help fundraise money for the Ukrainian Rehabilitation Centre “Unbroken”

My story is not unusual for Ukrainians as every one of us has (or had) somebody who helps to defend the country, but my father is not a soldier - he is a doctor. He currently works in one of the most dangerous directions and faces deaths and casualties on a daily basis. I know that even the brightest imagination won't help to realize the scale of the horrifying events that people there are going through - the pain that they suffer.

Half a year ago, I decided to run a Marathon. I thought about fundraising money but, to be honest, even felt scared and embarrassed - “How dare I ask people for money to help Ukrainians? They've got their own worries”. Also, I knew that lots wouldn't like to support any military fundraisings. I was scared up to the moment when I lost my friend who perished on the battlefield. I was devastated but I also realized that I didn't need to hesitate. A few days later, I saw the information about the Ukrainian 13-year-old girl, Yana, who lost both her legs during the attack on Kramatorsk the year before. She ran 5km at the Boston Marathon to fundraise money for a dier who lost his limbs too.

Yana inspired me and reminded me that I am still here, alive, and l can try to change the world for a better place. My father showed me how many people find themselves in the same position - how many of them not only lose parts of their soles in the war but also parts of their bodies. That's why I want to raise money for the Ukrainian Rehabilitation Centre “Unbroken”.