’You have to fight for it’: newcomer’s run raises funds for Ukrainian soldiers

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This article was published 24/08/2024 (402 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Nazariy Chychkevych had mixed feelings about celebrating Ukrainian Independence Day but knew he had to do something.

The newcomer organized a community run to raise funds for Ukrainian soldiers who have been battling Russian troops — soldiers he knows won’t be able to celebrate.

“It’s more than a celebration for me,” Chychkevych said about Ukrainian Independence Day, which marks the country’s declaration of independence in 1991 on Aug. 24 each year. “It’s about remembering those soldiers and the ultimate price people are paying with their lives for the state.”

The first Ukrainian Unity Run was held at The Forks Saturday to raise money for the 12th Azov Special Forces Brigade. The funds will help purchase drone and electronic warfare equipment for brigade soldiers. Chychkevych said the donations will be counted late Saturday.

“It’s about freedom and independence itself, and we can’t really take that for granted,” said Chychkevych, 23. “Most of the time, you have to fight for it. And that’s exactly what the Ukrainian Armed Forces are showing every second on the front lines.”

Chychkevych grew up in Lviv, located in Western Ukraine, less than 100 kilometres from the Polish border. He left Ukraine to study in Poland 10 days before Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022. He didn’t know it would be the last time he would step foot in his country.

Chychkevych was reunited with his mother, Olesia, and two younger brothers, Bohdan and Danylo, in Poland. They travelled on to Toronto before ending up in Winnipeg in August 2022.

“We heard that the Ukrainian community here is big and very helpful,” said Chychkevych.

Today, Chychkevych is studying business management at the University of Winnipeg.

He stays in daily contact with his father, grandparents and other relatives, who all still live in Lviv. He says they try to live normal lives, despite the war.

Lviv has been Winnipeg’s sister city for more than 50 years. In 2023, Mayor Scott Gillingham renewed that relationship by signing a new agreement with Lviv’s mayor.

The run was part of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress’s wider plans Saturday.

Joanne Lewandowski, president of the congress’s Manitoba chapter, is proud and encouraged to see Ukrainian newcomers integrating with the existing community and volunteering in Winnipeg.

“I’m very happy that these people who are our so-called brothers and sister from Ukraine, who’ve chosen friendly Manitoba for their home, want to become part of the community,” said Lewandowski. “They have not come here to family. They’ve come here to a community and the community is embracing them.”

The congress also organized various events for Ukrainian Independence Day, including a family night at West St. Paul community centre, and a night of cultural dancing and music at the Beer Can in West Broadway.

matthew.frank@freepress.mb.ca