Next month people from across Rushcliffe and Nottinghamshire are invited to march in solidarity and show support for those in Ukraine in a short walk in West Bridgford Town Centre.
In conjunction with Lutterell Hall, residents are invited to meet near the Test Match Pub on Gordon Road at 10.30am on Saturday 30th April, and process around half a mile on a route through Central Avenue, finishing at the Hall.
People of any age can join the march but all those who are interested are asked to click the ‘going’ or ‘interested’ buttons on this Facebook page: https://fb.me/e/3oHTxMisr – to enable organisers to prepare for measures around the event.
Alternatively email: ukraine@lutterellhall.org.uk
Those marching on the route are encouraged to bring along a sunflower to show solidarity and remember all children recently lost in hospital attacks across the Ukraine. These can be laid on the Croquet Lawn as part of the march route.
Those on the march or observing, or who wish to support from afar, will also be invited to donate digitally whatever amount they choose. Other fundraising opportunities will be outlined closer to the event.
This will go towards working with the Ukrainian community and responding to the most imminent needs.
The march will conclude at Lutterell Hall where march co-ordinator and Operations Manager Sofia Lesiuk will address attendees together with members of the Ukrainian Association, Rushcliffe Borough Council Leader Cllr Simon Robinson and other local dignitaries.
Sofia’s Grandfather Walter (Wolodymyr Lesiuk) was among the first Ukrainians to come to Nottingham when fleeing another Russian invasion in the country in the 1940s. He founded the national Ukrainian Association in the city that later evolved to over 50 clubs nationwide. This was recognised when he was invited to Buckingham Palace to receive the Queen’s thanks for years of service to the Ukrainian community.
She said: “My Grandfather came to this country aged 17 with just the clothes on his back. What he achieved and the legacy he left, combined with my work in the Rushcliffe community, really made me feel I needed to step forward and lead this march.
“Employed by the Rock Church to work within the community I feel well placed to work with other local charities and co-ordinate this walk which we hope will resonate with many, many people.
“Ukrainians are sadly no strangers to conflict and it was Holodomor in the 1930s that saw the starvation of more than seven million Ukrainians over a period of 18 months and a third of all children in Ukraine perish as a result.
“It is therefore vital that we continue to show support. Please join us in solidarity with the people of the Ukraine on Saturday 30th April”.
Leader of Rushcliffe Borough Council Cllr Simon Robinson met Sofia on part of the planned march route on Central Avenue in the town to show the authority’s support and we are grateful to Rushcliffe Borough Council and Nottinghamshire Police for working with us to make the march possible.
Cllr Robinson said: “The walk is a great opportunity for people to come together to show their solidarity for the people of Ukraine and everything they are having to endure at the hands of this cruel war.
“The scenes we are all seeing day in day out are incredibly saddening and our thoughts and prayers are with every family and individual affected. I hope Sofia and the community hosting this walk can be just one way Rushcliffe and beyond can show we will stand together and support.
“We continue to work with partners across central and local government on where we can assist re-housing Ukrainian nationals in the coming weeks and months and the latest information is at www.rushcliffe.gov.uk/ukraine ”
