Donning blue and yellow, residents of Ballito showed their support for Ukraine during a fundraising run held last Friday.

Held in conjunction with the weekly Hunt Properties 5km run, runners turned out in their numbers for the war-torn country and its embattled citizens.

One of the event’s most consistent runners, Ballito resident Nataliia Savelieva, hails from Yalta in the disputed Crimean territory which was formerly part of Ukraine.

She became friendly with the ‘Walkie Talkies’ exercise group during lockdown, and together they motivated the fundraiser initiative.

“We really want to help Nataliia to support her countrymen and women back in Ukraine and given her running talent, this seemed like a natural fit,” said Walkie Talkies member, Carolyn Carswell Munnik.

Along with sponsors Araujo Attorneys, Ballito KwikSpar, Concha, Mozambik, Vida Water, Coull Cotton and Hunt Properties, the run was a resounding success, raising just shy of R30 000, equivalent to around $2 000.

The money is being funneled directly to a Ukrainian charity, Kodacka Voda, which is providing drinking water to children, the elderly and animal shelters in the capital city, Kyiv.

“We want to support a charity helping people and animals that may otherwise be forgotten in aid packages. Nataliia identified Kodacka Voda and we think it is a worthy charity to send funds to,” said Munnik.

Given the success of the run, Munnik indicated that they plan on holding similar events in the future which can provide aid to other affected groups.

“I am so grateful to everyone who is helping by contributing to this run, I know that people in Ukraine really need it and will appreciate it,” said Savelieva.

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