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July 3 - 28, 2025, Oleksandr Kyyanytsya — a proud Ukrainian born with cerebral palsy, who lives in Canada — will walk 200km through Calgary - Cochrane - Bragg Creek - Canmore - Banff to inspire hope and resilience in the face of adversity and to raise $20,000 for frontline hospitals in Ukraine.

This isn’t just a walk — it’s a call to action. Oleksandr’s journey symbolizes the daily struggle of Ukrainians fighting for freedom and survival.

Through this campaign, we aim to:​
  • Raise $20,000 and fund medical aid for frontline hospitals in Ukraine
  • Inspire resilience in the face of adversity
  • ️Raise awareness about the ongoing war and its human toll

This campaign is proudly supported by:
  • Ukrainian Canadian Congress — Calgary Branch
  • Ukrainian Canadian Congress — Bow Valley Association
  • Ukrainian Association in Cochrane​
Together, we are amplifying Oleksandr’s voice and mission.

How You Can Help

  • ​​​Donate 
Your contribution will go directly to frontline hospitals in Ukraine providing life-saving care.
  • Spread the Word
Share Oleksandr’s story and follow his journey online. Every share multiplies impact.
  • Walk With Us
Join Oleksandr for part of his route or organize a walk in your own community.
  • Volunteer 
Fill out the form and join the team of enthusiastic volunteers who help Oleksandr fulfill his goal.

For donations, please use GoFundMe link here on the website OR e-transfer to [email protected]

Note: In the description, please mention "for Oleksandr Kyyanytsya."

​Update: We're Raising Our Goal! 💙💛

Thanks to your incredible generosity and Oleksandr's unwavering spirit, we've nearly reached our original $20,000 target in just 10 days. We are truly inspired by the outpouring of support from this community.

With Oleksandr continuing to walk and inspire, and with so many Ukrainian hospitals still in need, we’ve decided to increase our fundraising goal to $30,000.

This will allow us to extend our support to more frontline hospitals in Ukraine — helping to save lives and deliver urgent care where it's needed most.

Let’s keep walking this path together.
Thank you for walking with Oleksandr, and for standing with Ukraine. 🇺🇦

Track Oleksandr’s Journey

Route: Calgary - Cochrane - Bragg Creek - Canmore - Banff
Starting Point: City Hall, Calgary - July 3, 2025, at 10:00 am
Distance: 200 km
Dates: July 3 - July 28, 2025
Goal: $20,000 for life-saving medical equipment for frontline hospitals in Ukraine

Track Oleksandr's progress, cheer him on, and meet him at community events along the way!

Our Sponsors

We gratefully acknowledge the generous sponsors who support Oleksandr’s Gift of Walking campaign—not only through donations toward frontline medical aid in Ukraine, but also by covering his essential travel expenses, such as:
  • Food & daily nutrition to sustain him over 200 km
  • ​Accommodation along the route, from Calgary through Cochrane, Bragg Creek, Canmore, and Banff
  • ​Support services, including route logistics, emergency preparedness, etc.
This critical logistical support ensures that Oleksandr can remain focused on his mission: raising awareness, inspiring resilience, and generating funds for frontline hospitals.

​Meet Oleksandr 

Oleksandr Kyyanytsya, a Ukrainian living in Canada, embodies resilience, courage, and an unyielding commitment to help his homeland.
Born with cerebral palsy, Oleksandr has never allowed his physical limitations to dictate the course of his life. His motto, “I fall my whole life, but I stand up and keep walking”, reflects his indomitable spirit and refusal to give up in the face of challenges

Walking for a Cause
Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Oleksandr has made it his mission to raise awareness and funds for Ukrainian hospitals.
Between 2022 and 2024, he undertook monumental walks—covering 200 kilometers from Montreal to Ottawa and 130 kilometers from Toronto to Niagara Falls. Through these efforts, he raised over 32,000 Canadian dollars (nearly one million hryvnias), which were used to purchase essential medical equipment for hospitals in Ukraine.
Despite the physical toll of long-distance walking, Oleksandr’s determination remains unwavering. With the support of a dedicated team of volunteers, he walked up to 18 kilometers per day, wearing out five pairs of shoes in just 12 days (Ukrainian Wave, 2024). His efforts have already delivered vital equipment—such as surgical tools and shunts—for critically injured patients at Kyiv’s Second Children’s Hospital and the Institute of Neurosurgery.
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​A New Journey Begins
Starting July 3, 2025, Oleksandr will walk from Calgary to Banff, a journey of determination, hope, and solidarity.​

The Gift of Walking – Media Highlights

Land acknowledgement

In the spirit of reconciliation, we acknowledge that we live, work and play on the traditional territories of the Blackfoot Confederacy (Siksika, Kainai, Piikani), the Tsuut’ina, the Iyarhe Nakoda Nations, the Otipemisiwak Métis Government of the Métis Nation within Alberta District 6, and all people who make their homes in the Treaty 7 region of Southern Alberta.

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