*MaxwellxMissionToUkraine

Hi all!

Roughly 2 months after the marathon, I wanted to provide an update on how your funds have been spent.

A couple of weeks ago, Mission To Ukraine launched their window repair work in Kharkiv. The first of dozens of apartments have already been sized up, and the windows are being prepared for installation. The short story is: damaged windows, glass doors, and blown-out window frames are everywhere in Kharkiv and the region. Temporary wood covers and PVC tarps worked well during the summer and autumn in keeping the elements out. However, now that winter has blanketed Ukraine, these temporary solutions do little to insulate homes and even block out precious winter daylight, which leaves many in Ukraine cold and dark. In short, double-glazed glass windows are the only solution in most cases.

Pictured is the home of Alina, a Mission to Ukraine partner. A missile struck the apartment building adjacent to hers, and her kitchen and balcony windows shattered. Next week, these will all be fixed, and her apartment will be warm for the winter. This is a thank you extended to all of you! For all future updates, please refer to the Mission to Ukraine website: https://www.spotfund.com/story/ba50d4dc-e126-4a38-9535-d8e867a8ff97?SFID=missiontoukraine

Hi All! Thank you for your continued support. Please find progress updates below:

• Running updates:
  • Recently completed my last long run for training, a grueling 4am 18 miler. The tapering process starts now, where my mileage will ramp down for optimal rest and recovery going into the marathon.

• Winterization efforts in Kharkiv continued:
  • Most of the children’s summer camps in the Kharkiv region once were owned and operated by the city’s factories, the region’s largest employers. Families of Kharkiv’s citizens were gifted or sold vouchers to these places of rest, fun, and summer memories. 
  • Unfortunately, since initial construction in the 1970s, many of these locations have been poorly maintained, and many more which are located on the city’s rural periphery have found themselves caught in crossfire or in heavy combat areas since the Russian invasion. 
  • We are fundraising to repair and renovate two of these previous “resort” locations, which were last attended to in 2004. This property collectively has 7 large buildings on the territory, once housing a cinema, swimming pool, summer cafe, and other places of rest. One of the sites must be prepared for housing entirely, the other property is already in use by Kharkiv residents (largely elderly) who have lost their homes – but this housing is still inadequate (little to no electric, unreliable water, cold interiors due to poor insulation and plunging winter temperatures, etc.). 
  • Since then, much of this property has been unusable and empty. There was little interest in restoring these properties, but now we are hoping to repair the rooms and floors, adequately insulate, and winterize the property in order to settle people who’s housing has been damaged or destroyed. 
  • This project is interesting and important given its location to the city, size, and positive communication with municipal authorities concerning these improvements.