Hello, friends. So, unless you’ve been hiding under a rock (which I wouldn’t blame you for in these times) you know that there’s a crazy messed-up war going on in Ukraine right now. It’s likely not going to be over any time soon, and it has already caused so much destruction and devastation. So many lives have been lost, homes have been destroyed, and the images and headlines we’re seeing every day are horrifying, to say the least. Yet so many of us feel helpless.

You may also know that my beautiful partner, Serge Vlasenko, is Ukrainian and his family is still back home in Ukraine. His sister and 13-year-old nephew are wanting desperately to escape and come to Canada, but the escape routes out of the country are difficult, dangerous and scary. Innocent people, women and children, have been murdered just trying to get out.

I have decided to set up a ‘Go Fund Me’ campaign to support Serge’s sister and nephew in their immigration to Canada. His parents are quite elderly and won’t likely be going anywhere, as you can imagine. Any funds we can raise will be used first to get his sister and nephew out of the country and set up here in Canada, and then to provide care to his parents while they stay and wait out the war.

Any funds beyond that will be sent directly to his other friends back home who are organizing humanitarian efforts to support and protect the many many people who are still in Ukraine defending their beautiful country.

Please find it in your heart to donate what you can. Any amount counts and is greatly appreciated. And feel free to share this link with your family and friends. We don’t need to feel helpless.