Saskatoon man to bike 2,000 km to help get wheelchairs to Ukraine
A local organization is counting on one man's pedal power to help them raise money so they can send wheelchairs to those in need overseas.
In just over a week Ivan Nahachewsky sets off to bike 2,000 kilometres around northern Saskatchewan to help raise money for wheelchairs that will be sent to Ukraine.
He approached the local Knights of Columbus chapter with the idea to help raise money for the program that the group has been supporting for 14 years. It is done in conjunction with The Canadian Wheelchair Foundation.
The local group has helped send wheelchairs to children and adults in 13 countries.
This is the longest ride for Nahachewsky who has tackled bike journeys of about half the distance in the past. Training for the 21-day trek involved yoga, endurance training, and mental preparation. Nahachewsky's route starts in Cluff lake in northwest Saskatchewan and is almost entirely on gravel roads which he chose for the challenge of it.
He'll head to Beauval, then Key Lake, down to La Ronge and up to Stony Rapids for the finish.
“Knowing that when I’m done my painful experience, I get to get off my bike and walk away and if they’re in a wheelchair, they don’t get to get up and walk away so that’s a good motivation for me,” Nahachewsky told CTV News.
He’s served as a military chaplain and it was during a recent deployment to Ukraine that he realized the need for wheelchairs for those who have no access or means to get one and are left immobile.
he Knights of Columbus Saskatchewan wheelchair chairperson, Shawn Scherr set the goal of $250,000 for this fundraising campaign which he says, will buy about 1000 chairs at roughly $200 each to be delivered as early as the fall.
“I thought if we go big, we have a chance of getting more than one load so let’s try to get 10 loads to divide in Ukraine so let’s try to go big,” Scherr said.
Scherr was particularly drawn to this project because his daughter who is now 22 has used a wheelchair her whole life.
“The gift of mobility is something that people don’t know what that is. Not to be able to get around or go to work. It’s huge for people that can all of a sudden go to work and get out of the house and get groceries. There’s an independence that comes with mobility,” he said.
Nahachewsky says he’s doing the bike ride during his summer holiday which his wife questioned initially, but came to appreciate.
His daughter is driving him to the starting point in Cuff Lake and will be his pilot vehicle.
Donations can be made online.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. tenants evicted for landlord's use after refusing large rent increase to take over neighbouring suite
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
Expert warns of food consumption habits amid rising prices
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment which has been banned at Queen’s Park.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Ex-tabloid publisher testifies he scooped up possibly damaging tales to shield his old friend Trump
As Donald Trump was running for president in 2016, his old friend at the National Enquirer was scooping up potentially damaging stories about the candidate and paying out tens of thousands of dollars to keep them from the public eye.
Here's why provinces aren't following Saskatchewan's lead on the carbon tax home heating fight
After Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the federal government would still send Canada Carbon Rebate cheques to Saskatchewan residents, despite Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe's decision to stop collecting the carbon tax on natural gas or home heating, questions were raised about whether other provinces would follow suit. CTV News reached out across the country and here's what we found out.
Montreal actress calls Weinstein ruling 'discouraging' but not surprising
A Montreal actress, who has previously detailed incidents she had with disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, says a New York Court of Appeals decision overturning his 2020 rape conviction is 'discouraging' but not surprising.
Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye make it four NFL drafts with quarterbacks going 1-3
Caleb Williams is heading to the Windy City, aiming to become the franchise quarterback Chicago has sought for decades.