“This is wonderful,” exclaimed philanthropist Oleksandr Kyyanytsya, reacting in real-time as donations to his campaign surged in just a matter of days.
“I’ve never seen the amount go up this fast.”
Kyyanytsya is the driving force behind "The Gift of Walking," a fundraising initiative that supports the purchase of medical equipment for hospitals in his home city of Kyiv, Ukraine. What started as a personal mission in 2022 has since evolved into a nationwide campaign of hope, determination and community.
Kyyanytsya, who has lived in Montreal since moving to Canada at age 15, was compelled to take action after hearing news of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
“I wanted to think of ways to help my country when I had this idea to walk long distances to raise money for medical tools for Ukrainian hospitals,” he said.
He first set his sights on a symbolic 240-kilometre walk from Montreal to Ottawa, Canada’s capital. But what makes his efforts especially remarkable is that Kyyanytsya lives with cerebral palsy.
“It is definitely difficult for me,” he admitted. “But when you feel like you are doing it to rebuild your country, it gives you so much motivation and energy to complete it.”
Since launching The Gift of Walking, he has completed three walks from Montreal to Ottawa and a fourth trek from Toronto to Niagara Falls in 2023. His efforts have raised $32,000, funding critical surgical tools and shunts for patients at Kyiv’s Second Children’s Hospital and the Institute of Neurosurgery.
Now, the campaign has reached Alberta, where Kyyanytsya is tackling a new challenge: a walk from Calgary to Banff, journeying through both scenic landscapes and logistical hazards.
“I’m excited for this,” he said. “I’ve always wanted to go to Banff and see the Rockies.”
The initiative is supported by the Ukrainian Canadian Congress – Calgary Branch, Bow Valley Association, and Ukrainian Association in Cochrane. Community involvement has been key to making the Alberta leg of the walk a success.
“This feels like we’re part of a really major project that is uniting Ukrainians across Southern Alberta communities,” said Tetiana Prykhodko, president of the Ukrainian Association in Cochrane.
“Oleksandr is an amazing person. People instantly gravitate to what he is doing right after they meet him. He has such a magnetic persona in that way.”
Prykhodko explained that her association was invited to participate by the Ukrainian Canadian Congress, helping connect local support to the broader cause.
“We definitely welcomed the opportunity,” she said. “We thought that if he is going to do it here, then we should help in any way we can.”
Still, the journey is not without challenges.
“Vehicles are always zooming past me walking along the highway,” Kyyanytsya said. “There’s also my concern about coming across wildlife when I reach the mountains, but I have to keep going.”
With a fundraising goal of $20,000 now within reach, Kyyanytsya continues to walk with determination, aiming to reach Banff by July 28.
For more information about The Gift of Walking or to donate, visit: www.calgaryucc.ca/giftofwalking.html
