Close friendship leads to curling tournament for Ukrainian refugees in Montreal – Montreal | 24CA News
The means 14 year-old Semen Kucher and different teenagers from Ukraine have taken to curling on the Lachine Curling Club, you wouldn’t suppose they’ve solely been enjoying for a yr.
“It’s cool,” he grinned after one recreation Sunday afternoon. “I love it, yes. I love it.”
He and the others who fled the warfare in Ukraine, are actually members of the curling membership, and so they have been adequate to take part in a match Sunday to assist increase funds for Ukrainian refugees in Lachine.
“We still have newcomers escaping from the war in Ukraine and they need help,” membership member Stephaine Berger harassed. “They need furniture, they need language courses, they need books, they need food.”
The aim was the increase $5,000 by the top of the day and the hope is that the match will probably be annual.
According to Berger, the occasion took place due to a relationship fashioned off the ice between she and Maryna Kucher a yr in the past, after the latter got here to Montreal from Ukraine along with her two sons, fleeing the warfare.
When the pair noticed one another the primary time, they hit it off.
“Stephanie gave me a big pack of flowers,” mentioned Kucher smiling as the 2 recounted their first assembly.
“Yea,” replied Berger, combating again tears. “I forgot about that. You’re going to make me cry.”
Their two households began spending time collectively and Berger, a very long time roller, finally bought Kucher’s two sons, in addition to different children to affix the membership and be taught the game.
Because of that connection the membership determined to carry the fundraiser.
“A hundred percent of the benefit is going to go to Ukrainian aid,” mentioned Pierre Ferland, president of the day roller’s group on the Lachine membership.
Sunday’s fundraiser additionally included a dinner and celebration and Kucher and different girls from Ukraine are doing the cooking, as a means for them to say thanks for the assistance they and different refugees have acquired from the neighborhood.
On the menu — Ukrainian delicacies together with borscht which membership members will assist to organize.
To make the borscht, Kucker even bought some assist from her mother all the way in which in Ukraine.
“I called her to tell me how to prepare it, and she told me by phone,” she laughed.
Both Berger and Kucher say they’re grateful for his or her friendship, one thing they foreseen lasting nicely past the warfare.
