A 'skate-obsessed' boy from Ukraine has smiled for the first time since being forced to leave his war-torn homeland. Seven-year-old Elijah and his family left for Manchester earlier this year and were left without any of their belongings and were forced to leave friends and family behind.
Having struggled to adapt to life in the UK, Elijah's mother found out about the Altrincham Speed Skating Club and contacted the club to see if her son, who was a dedicated skater back home, could join in their monthly sessions.
The club's members discovered that Elijah and his mum travelled two hours by public transport specifically to attend the session at Altrincham Ice Rink. Club Secretary Sally Sherard-Bornshin said his mother expressed how she had seen Elijah smile for the first time since leaving Ukraine.
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“They contacted the club as Elijah had been a talented skater in his hometown,” Sally said. “[They felt] this might not only help him adjust to life in the UK and put a little normality in his life, but also give him hope and something to look forward to despite the devastating situation they find themselves and their country in.
“Living in an outer area of North West Manchester, Elijah and his mother travelled over two hours to reach the club by public transport and during the session, his mother was visibly upset and had tears in her eyes. In broken English, she explained the terrible circumstances and that this was the first time that Elijah had smiled since the family was displaced to the UK.”
The club were told that while the family had found safe accommodation, they were struggling because of the language barriers and Elijah’s dad’s disability.
Sally said that Elijah’s mum was so determined to get him to the club that she hadn’t considered how to travel back from the session. The club’s members were able to come together to contribute towards a taxi trip home for the pair.
Sally explained: “The issue that was immediately faced was that although Elijah and his mother had travelled two hours to reach the club, expending little finances they had, they did not fully comprehend the impossibility of getting home after the session at the club that finishes at 9:15pm on a Sunday evening.
“Bus services would not allow them to get home safely, if at all, and the club rallied round to get them home by taxi as no one in the club lived anywhere close to the family.”
Altrincham Speed Skating Club has now launched a fundraiser to allow Elijah to regularly attend the sessions and help his family with essentials. The fundraiser has a target of £750m and has already surpassed £680.
Sally added: “The club, like Elijah’s mother, is determined to keep the smile on this little boy's face, keep him in sport and allow him to not only train with the club, but integrate into society and continue to demonstrate the generosity of the community and country.
“Whilst the club has donated some equipment that they had, waived the annual membership and training fees, they and parents at the club cannot sustain the cost for the taxi ride home each week and hope that the community can rally around this heart-breaking situation and help cover some of the cost.
“We recognise that it is not the best time to be asking people to support an appeal, but given the heart-breaking situation the family finds themselves in like millions of other Ukrainians, even £1 will make a difference.
“The family is safe, but we can help them have a little more than a minimal existence and putting a smile on a seven-year-old’s face is something we can do. We have been overwhelmed by the generosity of people so far and when we reach our goal any surplus will be invested into the club to benefit our other young members and ensure the future of the club and renew many items that are broken, or need replacing.
“We are a small club and not a very well-known sport, but have a huge impact on the lives, especially the young people, that take part.”
The fundraiser will secure transport home for Elijah and his mum and will also help provide some of the essential equipment that Elijah had to leave behind in Ukraine.
Through a translation app, Elijah’s mother said her son was so giddy and a ‘complete chatterbox’ all the way home from the first session. She added: “He goes to sleep dreaming of skating and won’t stop talking about the club and amazing people in the UK.
“Now through the good people at the club and people that do not know us, we are again humbled by the generosity and he smiles again, may God bless you all and your families.”
You can donate via the GoFundMe appeal here.
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