Knight tournaments and charity bike rides: ten creative fundraisers for the benefit of the Ukrainian army

What is the problem?

Since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion, the total amount of donations for the needs of the Ukrainian army and in support of humanitarian initiatives has reached almost €100 billion. However, volunteers say it is becoming increasingly difficult to fundraise the necessary amount. According to a survey by the Postmen communication agency, today, Ukrainians donate an average of ₴1,525 per month to the Armed Forces of Ukraine, which is half as much as in 2022. This is understandable — 56% of the respondents of the same study admit that during the year of the war, their expenses increased significantly. The number of people whose savings have decreased or disappeared altogether has also increased.

What is the solution?

The resources of the Ukrainians are decreasing, but the war is still ongoing. The organizers of the meeting emphasized that every amount is essential in order to bring victory closer. The message "there are no small donations" is more relevant today than ever. Volunteers, in turn, are looking for new ways to develop a culture of donations. They are becoming even more creative and inventive in finding new ways to raise funds.

Rubryka collected ten creative ideas from different regions of Ukraine, which have already become drivers for increasing support for Ukrainian army.

How does it work?

Participants of the charity quest Historical paths of the city in Kropyvnytskyi

In Kropyvnytskyi, NGO Hearts of Kropyvnytskyi Mothers and Veterans of War and Krop:hub Kropyvnytskyi organize charity sightseeing tours and educational quests. The purpose of the events is to learn more about the history of the city of Kropyvnytskyi, to relax and support the Ukrainian army.

For example, the participants of the quest Historical Paths of the City, arranged in June, had to pass through thirteen city locations. Each of the following could be found only by guessing the previous one. To engage the participants even more, the event organizers created prizes for the winners — certificates from a popular restaurant, certificates for excursions and photo shoots, and themed souvenirs.

Adults and children accompanied by adults could participate, and all contributed ₴200 for one person and ₴300 for two. The professional tour guide of the Kropyvnytskyi excursion agency WOWalk helped the volunteers prepare the content part of the quest.

Volunteers report on the money spent on the needs of the Ukrainian army on social media pages.

Knight fights at a charity tournament in Lutsk

In Lutsk, they held a charity festival on medieval combat. After the full-scale invasion of Russia, such tournaments were not held. So, this time, it was decided to organize a charitable spectacle to raise money for the necessary things for Ukrainian soldiers.

Lutsk Open Cup, Medieval Luchesk. Valor of Ages, gathered almost half a hundred fighters from seven regions of Ukraine and even from Poland. At the tournament, the spectators could watch the fights on the Lutsk Castle rink and donate to the Ukrainian army.

"Immense gratitude to the soldiers who defend our land. Many Ukrainian knights changed their medieval armor to more modern ones, and instead of swords, they had to pick up machine guns. We always remember, appreciate, support — all proceeds from the event are transferred to the knight-athletes who defend Ukraine in the Armed Forces of Ukraine ranks," commented Kateryna Umyarova, the captain of the Ukrainian national team in medieval combat.

Charity breakdance battle in Vinnytsia

In Vinnytsia, they also arranged a battle, but a dance one. The break-dancing competition was organized to support youth and displaced persons. More than 100 dancers from different cities of Ukraine came to the charity tournament to prove their skills.

On the initiative of the Diana Podolyanchuk Charitable Foundation and the Shakhina Volunteer Center, a charity fair was held during the festival. All raise funds were sent to help the Ukrainian army — namely, to a targeted fundraiser for the doctors of the AZOV brigade.

Maksym Kostyuk recites poems and collects drones for the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

In the Rivne region, a nine-year-old collects donations for the Armed Forces of Ukraine thanks to video poems. Maksym Kostyuk memorizes the poems of Ukrainian poets, records a video, posts it on social networks, and encourages those who liked the post to help Ukrainian defenders.

The mother of a third-grader from the village of Smyha says that in this way, they decided to fundraise for a resident of the Smyha community, who is currently in the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, to buy drones for the unit. At first, they simply announced a fundraiser, but immediately began thinking about how to encourage people to collect the necessary amount faster. Then, Kostyuk received a task from his teacher to prepare a poem for a readers' competition.

Other children began to support the boy. This is how a new poetic and patriotic flashmob #віршзадонат was born. As of June, it was possible to collect ₴113,791 as part of the Poem for Donation marathon. The first drone has already gone to its owner on the front lines.

"This flash mob has several positive aspects. First, it shows children that now, in wartime, everyone can help bring victory closer, regardless of age. Secondly, it is an opportunity for parents to spend more time with their children because the poem needs to be learned, recorded, and published. Thirdly, it really is support for Ukrainian defenders," explains Vita Kostyuk, Maksym's mother.

In Vinnytsia, children fished and collected on buggies for the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

The Vinnytsia branch of the all-Ukrainian Association of Hunters, Anglers, and Bioprotectors organized a fishing championship among children. It was used to collect money for buggies for the Ukrainian military.

The championship was held at Lake Tsukernya in the Yakushynetska community, and 70 children participated. The youngest participant in sport fishing is three years old, and the oldest is 16. Displaced children also took part in the competition. Those who did not have a fishing rod received one from the competition organizers, and children were also given fishing bait.

The participation fee was ₴250. In total, ₴32,400 were collected during the championship.

By the way, the fish were not harmed! After all, the rule of sports fishing is "catch-weigh-release," so the winners were determined not by the number but by the weight of the fish.

To help the military, Bohdan Trotsenko won his own Mercedes in the lottery.

Another way to draw attention to your fundraiser is to have something to do. For example, volunteer Bohdan Trotsenko from Haysyn raffled off his own Mercedes SUV for donations to the Armed Forces.

It was possible to participate in the draw for only ₴200. The participants could make more than one contribution and increase their chances of becoming the owner of a cool car. Trotsenko planned to choose the winner randomly when 5,000 participants signed up. The primary goal of the collection is one million hryvnias.

On his pages on social networks, the volunteer said that, at first, he just wanted to sell the car. However, he decided raising much more money by raffling off cars in the lottery was possible. Trotsenko bought an SUV even before the war, and it cost ₴600,000.

Since the start of the raffle, ₴800,000 have been donated. The car was won by a serviceman with a callsign Sevas and his unit. The winner came from the south, literally for a day, to get the prize. He says that such a car is currently essential in the unit. Equipment at the front is expendable, constantly breaking down.

Participants of the cycling race in Chernivtsi

Charity races are a common way to raise funds for Ukraine. In Chernivtsi, they decided to organize a bicycle race. This is how bicycle fans collected money to buy a thermal imager for fellow cyclists who are now at the front. To participate in the competition, it was necessary to pay only ₴50. In total, about 200 people took part in the run that passed through the city streets.

To help Ukrainian veterans, Pavlo Tanasiuk will ride almost 7,000 kilometers by bicycle.

The British-Ukrainian entrepreneur and founder of the space company Spacebit decided to overcome a much greater distance to help Ukraine. He will travel three continents by bicycle, collecting money for veterans of Ukraine.

The Ride for Victory route will be 6,993 km long, corresponding to the distance at which, as of the beginning of May, the protection of the Ukrainian border from the Russian invaders continued. The route will include 5,000 km in the US, 1,500 km in Japan, and 493 km in Europe.

"I have chosen my way of fighting — this is my lonely and challenging journey by bicycle in support of veterans and their children. I believe that people in different countries will support my idea and help raise the necessary funds for those who most need our help," Tanasiuk said in his solo trip announcement.

The Federation of Billiard Sports in Ivano-Frankivsk collected over ₴80,000 during the charity event.

In Ivano-Frankivsk, for a donation to the Ukrainian army, you could play billiards with real meters of this sport. The Billiard Sports Federation organized the action, and the pool table was set up on one of the city's squares.

To donate, it was not necessary to participate in the game — there were donation boxes nearby. Those who donated ₴500 or more could play with one of the five champions of Ukraine who participated in the campaign.

During the event, ₴81,618 were collected. The organizers will use this money to purchase quadcopters for the 10th separate mountain assault brigade, Edelweiss.

Works of Poltava artist Serhii Matvienko

In Poltava, volunteers organized a fundraiser for the Armed Forces, during which donors could receive their own portrait. Money was fundraised to buy a Mavic drone for the 3d assault brigade, where many Poltava residents serve. The total amount of the fee is ₴98 thousand. Local artist Serhii Matvienko created portraits for everyone who donated ₴500 and more.

On the charitable organization Poltava Battalion of the Caring page, it was said that organizing such a fundraiser and helping the battalion in this way was the artist's idea. Anyone willing could participate in the campaign — portraits were sent to any corner of Ukraine by mail.

Sculptor Oleksii Markovstkyi from Korostyshiv makes cats for Ukrainian soldiers.

A sculptor from Korostyshiv makes concrete cats and collects money for the Ukrainian army. The action was called "Kittens for our 'kittens,'" as Ukrainians often call the soldiers defending Ukraine, 'kittens.' The author of the idea and sculptures, Oleksii Markovskyi, says that thanks to the sale of the statues, they have already raised funds for a thermal imager, and now they are collecting for a car.

"Why cats? Because they are therapeutic, they create a positive mood, which is especially necessary now," explains Markovskyi.

The most pleasant thing is that the Korostyshiv special school students help the sculptor make the concrete cats. The sculptor says that children take part in the process with great pleasure.

This is how live communication, necessary for children, takes place. Vitaliy Makarchuk, acting director of the Korostyshiv special school, notes that such classes positively affect children.

"They become calmer, more self-confident. They want to do something good and interesting. This is very important for us," says the teacher.

One of the cats was named Victoria. Why? To bring the victory closer.

Any contribution is important

Ukrainian volunteers never tire of repeating: every donation contributes to a great common cause to bring Ukraine's victory and a peaceful future. They ask not to pass by the fundraisers because titans, Ukrainian defenders, are standing on the defense of every city or village in all corners of Ukraine. They need help because victory begins with each of us.

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