I am a Ukrainian refugee and I have been in England with my family for over three years. From 06-Dec 2025, I am running for the Red Cross Ukraine Crisis Running Club in the #RCUCRC #SantaHatChallenge. Please support me and this fundraiser - 100% of donations go the Red Cross Ukraine Crisis Appeal.

Fear, anger and concern across Ukraine right now is about the continuing conflict and the hardship of survival this winter. Missile and drone attacks have hit record levels every year, and this will be the fourth winter of the troubles. Ukrainians at home are worried about spending most of the day without heat and light as power stations are being targeted once again.

Surviving on 4 hours of power a day and trying to keep warm, whilst cooking on portable gas stoves, is bad enough, only to be followed by the nighttime torture of trying to sleep and staying safe. Ukrainians have a stark choice of remaining at home and hoping to stay safe behind two walls with a chance of getting some sleep, or trying to sleep in the car in underground car parks. Going to the shelters two or three times a night is not entirely safe, but people end up not sleeping at all. Whilst two walls at home can protect against drones, hypersonic missiles can destroy entire buildings and also do not allow enough time to escape to shelters when the air raid warning sounds.

Please help? There is a ‘Give Now’ button on my page – thank you.

Do you want to join this challenge or help in 2026? Please join the RCUCRC fundraising team for Ukraine? Do you have a challenge in mind? Run, walk or cycle 500km, 1000km or 1000 miles in 2026? Or enter one event? Email us at admin@rcucrc.org.uk. or choose your challenge, and join the fundraiser. You don't need to enter an event, you just set up your own RCUCRC page, and copy, paste and amend this story as your own with your challenge. Then just run, ride, walk and keep fit for Ukraine.

Check out the history of the RCUCRC at www.justgiving.com/team/rcucrc - there are over 1,000 of us and you can join in without donating and add your running distance each week to support Ukraine at www.strava.com/clubs/rcucrc. Together, we run around the world every two weeks!

Thank you so much for your help.

Sincerely

Larysa Seniavska