As many of you know, I’m just completing an epic 8 day bicycle journey, from Grimsby, ON to Amsterdam (near Albany) NY, and back

again from Buffalo to Grimsby. Accompanying me was my younger

brother, Yurij (George), and my nephew, Jesse. In the beginning

it was to celebrate Yurij’s 60th birthday, and my retirement from

family medicine.

With the many hours of contemplation during this entirely human

powered journey, it reinforced how absolutely fortunate we are to live in such a prosperous and peaceful nation (Canada), and to be

blessed by geography to have the United States of America as our

closest neighbour and friend.

Not so for Ukraine, the land of my parents and ancestors. It

occurred to me that I had to make a gesture towards supporting

Ukraine, which since February 24th, is fighting for it’s very existence, as a result of the genocidal invasion from Putin’s Russia.

I will be donating 100% of donations, starting with my own of $

($1.00/km cycled), to the charities listed via the Ukrainian Canadian

Congress (website here for all the charities: https://www.ucc.ca/2022/03/03/where-to-donate-to-support-ukraine/ ). I invite you to join me in our support for Ukraine. Feel free to pick your charity, and I’ll

ensure that it will be sent there. Alternatively, if this inspired you to

donate, please do so, and I’ll keep track of the total raised, and will let everyone know! I most humbly thank each of you, in advance! As of

this evening, we have cycled 745.6 km over 7 days with one more to go (estimated 47.0km), for a total of 796.2 km. We’ll appreciate any

donation, large or small. Ukraine needs us more than ever!