For Ukrainian refugee Lyudmila Kolomiets, joining her 1000-miler hosts on their daily walks is helping her cope with the heartbreak of leaving her friends, family and war-torn homeland.
When she started to hear explosions from her home, Lyudmila Kolomiets’ 21-year-old daughter Oksana decided she had to leave Ukraine. And there was no way Lyudmila was letting her do that alone. Travelling with another young woman, they crossed the border on foot. “Our relatives didn’t want to go, hoping the war would end,” explains Lyudmila. “And now we’re cut off from them, from the house, from the country.”
The women fled to Austria, where they’ve gone from the horrors of war to the compassion of 1000-mile challengers Daniela and Peter Leinweber and the safety of their home. Says Daniela: “My biggest goal is to distract them a bit so they don’t have to constantly think about home and their male family members who are fighting in an unspeakably terrible war,” says Daniela.
One way she and Peter achieve the distraction is by inviting them on their daily #walk1000miles walks. And says Lyudmila, it’s really making a difference: “Walking is good for the soul; it helps reduce stress. When I’m in nature, I can forget sad thoughts for a moment. I hear birds and smell the natural world. I’m very grateful to Daniela that despite being so busy [she also runs an orphanage] she cares for us and supports us. I thank God I met her and her family, and our walks help me to gain balance and give me some inner peace.”
Lyudmila says she longs for an end to the war, but her country can’t achieve it alone. “Despite the heroism of our guys, we need help to win, the help of the whole world. And I ask, don’t allow Putin to strangle Ukraine.
“Before the war, my husband and I loved to walk by the sea or in the woods, often accompanied by relatives or friends. I hope these times will return.”
1000-milers Peter and Daniela have welcomed Lyudmila (back centre), Oksana (front) and a third woman, who doesn’t want to be named, to their home.
