My name is Maksym Gushchyn, although most people who know me in the UK call me Max.

I am originally from Kherson, Ukraine, and I now live and work in London.

A close relative of mine in Kherson has lived with diabetes for many years. He previously lost one leg as a result of complications from the disease. Recently, I learned that his remaining leg had also been amputated above the knee.

He does not know this fundraiser exists.

On 21–22 August 2026, I will cycle approximately 400 km from London to Antwerp, crossing the UK, France and Belgium over two days.

I am raising a personal medical fund to support his future mobility. The funds may be used for clinical and prosthetic assessment, an appropriate prosthetic system, fitting and adjustments, rehabilitation and physiotherapy, mobility equipment, treatment-related travel and other directly related medical or mobility costs.

I am deliberately keeping his identity private from the public. His medical history is not mine to publish, and I do not want to give him false hope before I know that meaningful help is available. I will, however, provide his full name, my relationship to him and any other information required privately to GoFundMe's Trust & Safety team for verification.

This is a personal medical fundraiser, not a registered charity appeal.

I am the organiser and will receive the fundraiser proceeds in my UK account. The intended beneficiary is in Kherson, Ukraine.

Once the campaign has raised meaningful funds, I will tell him about it and arrange for an appropriate professional assessment. The exact treatment and provider will depend on that assessment.

Where reasonably possible, I intend to use the funds as follows:

Depending on the recommended treatment, payments may be made to providers in Kherson or elsewhere in Ukraine if specialist treatment is required outside his home city.

If direct payment to a provider is not practical, any transfer made for his benefit will be documented and included in campaign updates.

I will publish updates showing the amount raised, payment-processing fees, net funds received, significant payments made and the remaining balance. Where appropriate and with the beneficiary's consent, I will also publish redacted quotations, invoices or receipts.

The costs of my bicycle ride, ferry, accommodation, return travel, cycling equipment and filming equipment will not be paid from donations.

The initial £20,000 target is a provisional mobility fund rather than the quoted price of a specific prosthesis. Because this campaign is currently a surprise, he cannot yet participate in the clinical assessment required to determine the appropriate treatment and its actual cost.

Once he knows about the campaign and has been professionally assessed, I will update the fundraiser with the recommended treatment plan, available external support and the documented funding requirement.

If the full target is not reached, the amount raised can still be used towards appropriate assessment, rehabilitation, mobility equipment or prosthetic treatment.

If you are able to donate, thank you. If you are unable to donate, sharing the fundraiser would also be greatly appreciated.

His identity will remain private publicly, while the beneficiary details and use of funds can be verified privately by GoFundMe.