Lewisham walker raising hundreds for Ukraine by covering 20,000 steps every day – each one an agonising ordeal
A walker with damage to both legs has pledged to cover 20km a day to raise money for Ukrainian humanitarian relief.
Jason Bostridge, 48, of Woolstone Road, Lewisham suffers from nerve damage to both of his legs, and has said he will walk 20km each day for as long as the conflict in Ukraine continues.
Mr Bostridge has set a target of £3,000 which he hopes to raise for the Disasters Emergency Committee.
He said: “Yes, I’m in pain and discomfort, but that’s nothing compared to what Ukrainians are going through.
“Some days, I have to steep my legs up with support bandages, but I press on regardless.”
In 2006, Mr Bostridge was hospitalised at Lewisham Hospital with meningococcal septicaemia, where he contracted MRSA and pneumonia.
Mr Bostridge nearly lost his life, spending 11 days in a coma and one month in a high dependency unit.
After months of physiotherapy and PTSD counselling, he was able to start doing normal day-to-day activities.
But the illness left Mr Bostridge with nerve damage to both of his legs, causing him constant pain around his knee joints.
Despite his affliction, he was horrified by the Russian invasion of Ukraine and decided to do all he could to help.
He said: “People have little shelter, are cut off from food, water and medicine.
“I have a friend out there, fighting for her life, her home, and her right to exist as a free and sovereign Ukrainian citizen.
She has never picked up a weapon in her life.
“It is not just for her that I am doing this, it’s for every person that needs warmth, shelter, food, water and medical aid.
It is for all of them.”
At the time this article went to press, Mr Bostridge had walked 120 miles and raised £625 of his £3,000 target.
He hopes people will donate, and if not, to at least spread the word, so that others have the chance to help.
On Sunday March 20, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) estimated that roughly 10 million Ukrainians have been forced to flee abroad or have been displaced inside the country.
Around two million refugees have fled to Poland, with thousands of others going to nearby countries such as Romania, Moldova, Hungary and Slovakia.
Mr Bostridge said: “I believe it is important for the Ukrainian people to know that people are doing all they can to help and that they are not alone.
“Peace and humanity must prevail.”
You can donate to Mr Bostridge’s cause by accessing his GoFundMe Page, titled Ukraine Humanitarian Walk.
The link is: https://gofund.me/26f89e44
To donate clothes and shoes you can drop off or send the items to:
All Recycle Ltd, Unit 3, Lodge Farm, Lodge Lane, Cobham, Kant, DA12 3BS
You can also book a free home collection of your items at https://recyclecollection.
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