Pierre Laubscher
Red-Cross Ukraine Crisis Running Club - Appeal 2022-24
Fundraising for The British Red Cross Society
Story
Pierre Laubscher started raising money for the Red Cross in Ukraine in March-2022. He set up the Red Cross Ukraine Crisis Running Running Club and they are raising money for the Red Cross 🚑 in Ukraine. Pierre's first challenge was running 3,000km, the equivalent distance from Sheffield, UK, to its twin city, Donetsk, in the east of Ukraine.
Pierre completed 3,000km in January and as the war goes on, so does his challenge... To run virtually from Sheffield to Donestsk... and back, completing 6,000km.
Sadly the war is into its third year, and the Red Cross are very active with dozens of volunteers from the UK, helping with water, food, first-aid and shelter. Missile attacks hit record levels at the end of 2023 and in early January. Kyiv continues to have almost daily sir-raid warnings and drone attacks hit record levels in February and March. Hypersonic missiles that do not permit sufficient warning to take shelter exploded and killed residents in March. Russia is bombing power stations with meticulous ease and the west, notably USA, needs to step up and help, as Ukraine defences are depleted.
The Red Cross 🚑 has provided relief for the tens of millions of people in Ukraine who have fled their homes, and have lost loved ones, by donating food, water, and essentials - they need our help now more than in the beginning and help will continue to be needed, even when the war is over. One key event was helping victims of the Kakhovka Dam collapse in Jun-2023. Concern across Ukraine is about the continuing conflict, during the winter months ahead.
As soon as the war began on 24-Feb-2022, Pierre started fundraising for the Ukraine Red Cross and began his journey with the Sheffield Half Marathon on 27-Mar-2022.... and then he just carried on and is due to hit his 3,000km target in January 2024. He completed his first target of 1,000km on 23-Oct-2022, with his Sheffield Endcliffe Park Solo Half Marathon and after surgery in Apr-2023, he clocked up 2,000km in Jun-2023.
So with the support of the British Red Cross, so many friends, parkrunners, Endcliffe Park visitors, Friends Of The Porter Valley in Sheffield, and the worldwide Red Cross Ukraine Crisis Running Club on Strava, the fundraising will continue into 2024. Due to his surgery, Pierre deferred his London Marathon to Apr-2024. Pierre is back on track with his running and grateful that he and others are free to run in safety, whilst fellow runners in Ukraine sometimes run to the sound of air-raid sirens.
Whatever you can spare, or even the price of a meal out, that would be a small sacrifice in comparison to the hardship and tragedy experienced by the people of Ukraine.
Pierre has met many Ukrainians on my fundraising journey and it has been a far more moving experience than he imagined. He knows of one family who actually had 15
