I want to help, it’s too close to home
Caring Polish dad takes on running challenge to help people in Ukraine
A West Lothian dad says he was moved to raise money to help people in Ukraine after seeing heartbreaking pictures of children sleeping on concrete floors in basements.
Grzegorz Korsak, who is originally from Poland, said he couldn’t imagine his own little boy having to go through what youngsters in Ukraine are suffering so wanted to raise money to help.
And he set himself the gruelling challenge of running around Westcraigs Park an astounding 600 times.
The fundraiser kicks off just after midnight on Friday into Saturday and will see him cover 127 miles in 29 hours.
He will be joined by two fellow runners, Ryan Small and Peter Murray, but the majority of the challenge will undertaken by Grzegorz himself.
Grzegorz, who stays in Blackridge with wife Regina and son Kuba (10), said he desperate to help as the war in Ukraine is “too close to home”.
He told the Courier: “There are kids sleeping in basements on concrete floors. I just felt I had to do something.
“I come from Poland so it’s not too far from Ukraine, so it’s far too to close to home.
“I also know a wee bit about how these people are feeling when they land in a different country with nothing.
“In 2006 I came here and had nothing and spoke no English, so it’s really important that there is someone who can help these people in that moment.
“It’s a terrible situation. When I see the kids sleeping on concrete floors and then I see my kid in a comfy bed. I felt it’s just not right.”
Fitness fanatic and amateur boxer Grzegorz is no stranger to pushing himself to raise money for charity.
Over the last few years he has run marathons and an ultra marathon, the West Highland Way and new race The Highlands 180 – a 180-mile stretch that starts in Aviemore and goes to Fort William by the East Highland Way and continues to Milngavie.
Grzegorz continued: “I’ve done a bigger distance before this, but this one is mentally harder because I don’t see the end or a check point or a finish line. I’ll just be going round and round like a hamster in a wheel.”
He continued: “I’m always active. I love sports. All my family is active. We have two dogs, we run with the dogs; my wee boy plays football, does judo and boxing.”
Grzegorz said he has already smashed his £2000 target and the money raised will go to Nova Ukraine, a charity dedicated to providing humanitarian aid to Ukraine and raising awareness about the country. Grzegorz said that people in Blackridge always give him their support with his fundraising efforts.
He said: “It’s always surprising how many people support me every time with my fundraising.
“Sometimes it is people I don’t even know and that is really touching.
“I lived in London first then moved to Scotland with my wife and I was made to feel so welcome.
“We are so happy here.
“I just want to show my support for everyone in Ukraine. I just want to help someone.
“I don’t help people because I have too much, I help because I know how it feels to have nothing.”
Search for Grzegorz’s page on Facebook to donate.