While their friends were having fun during spring break, Karl Lundsbye and Rowan Hermiston were brainstorming ways to help the people of Ukraine.
The two youth have been watching coverage of the war with a mix of sadness and horror, especially as children their age flee their homes or are forced to shelter underground as the Russian troops bomb Ukrainian cities. During a walk around 100 Mile House Marsh last week, they came up with the idea of A Peace Walk for Ukraine, a march and fundraiser set for noon on Sunday, March 27.
鈥淚 saw a news article about nine newborn babies who are being taken care of inside of a basement in Kiyv and I decided that this was getting way too crazy to continue,鈥� said Karl, 11, a Grade 6 student at 100 Mile Elementary. 鈥淭he biggest country in the world wanting more power (and territory) is horrible, especially because they鈥檙e not doing it politically and peacefully. They鈥檙e killing people.鈥�
Karl noted some Ukrainian families have had to walk more than 50 kilometres to get to safety. In solidarity, he and Rowan will start their march at the South Cariboo Visitors Centre, with a goal to walk around the marsh as many times as they can. They both intend to wear blue and yellow, the colours of the Ukrainian flag, and carry signs calling for peace.
They鈥檙e inviting the entire community to join them and donate to the cause, either in person or by sending an e-transfer to Karl鈥檚 mom kimberlylundsbye@hotmail.com. The two have already met their initial goal of $200 for the Ukrainian Red Cross and have now raised their hopes to collect $1,000. As of Tuesday morning, they鈥檝e raised $700.
鈥淧eople can join if they want or just sit around and just watch,鈥� said Rowan, 10, a student at Mile 108 Elementary School.
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Rowan said she was inspired to help Ukraine by Canim Lake resident Peter Reichert, who spent the first few weeks of the Ukraine invasion picketing by the side of Highway 97. Reichert carried a sign with a Ukrainian flag that read Stop Putin, and was accompanied by an effigy of Putin with a pig nose. Reichert is working toward opening his home to Ukrainian refugees, as an estimated 3.5 million people have fled as Russian armed forces continue to bombard and invade its cities.
Melissa Hermiston and Karl鈥檚 mother Kimberly Vance-Lundsbye said they鈥檙e proud of their children taking a stance against the invasion. Vance-Lundsbye said it鈥檚 good for their mental health to do something rather than simply worry about the war.
鈥淲e鈥檙e really proud they want to take the initiative to do something and that they鈥檙e showing concern for people on the other side of the world they鈥檝e never met,鈥� Hermiston added. 鈥淎s a parent, it鈥檚 nice to know that your kids are showing that kind of empathy.鈥�
Karl said no one should have to live through war. Whatever the outcome of their fundraiser, both he and Rowan hope the war in Ukraine can be brought to a swift and peaceful end. They agree wholeheartedly with Reichert, who called Putin a pig for what he鈥檚 done.
鈥淚 just feel so bad for people who are affected by the pig,鈥� Rowan said. 鈥淯kraine shouldn鈥檛 be his mud to lay in.鈥�
patrick.davies@100milefreepress.net
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