Teaching assistant raises money for Ukrainian rehab centre 'Unbroken'

Anastasiia 'Nas' Kaminska is a learning support teaching assistant at Brampton's William Howard School and has raised £500 for the centre which is located in Lviv by completing the Solway Coast Marathon which took place on Sunday, June 30.

Nas completed the marathon alongside two of her William Howard School colleagues and her twin sister Kateryna who raised money for Hospitallers Ukraine Aid.

Nas moved to the United Kingdom shortly after Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and ever since has been looking for ways to support her motherland.

The William Howard School trio after the marathon. (Image: Supplied) She said: "I am a Ukrainian who came to the UK after the full-scale Russian Invasion, and for 2 years in this country, I have been balancing between building my life from scratch and trying to help Ukraine as much as I can."

Nas explained more about why she wanted to take on the West Coast marathon and cited her father, a doctor in Ukraine, as her main inspiration. 

She said: "My story is not unusual for Ukrainians as every one of us has had somebody who helps to defend the country, but my father is not a soldier - he is a doctor.

"He currently works in one of the most dangerous directions and faces deaths and casualties on a daily basis.

"I know that even the brightest imagination won't help to realize the scale of the horrifying events that people there are going through - the pain that they suffer."

"I am very proud of myself and my sister.

"We are so privileged to live in a peaceful environment, so we need to do our best to support the people of Ukraine who, unfortunately and unfairly, don't have this opportunity. 

Nas and Kateryna (Image: Supplied) "Also, I am so grateful for all the support that I've received from my colleagues and friends—it wouldn't have been possible without them."

After Nas completed the Solway Coast marathon, William Howard School's headteacher Kath Pigdon also congratulated the teaching assistant on her achievement and for raising money for a 'great cause.'

She said: "Nas has not only achieved a significant personal milestone but also combined passion with purpose raising money for a great cause.

"She was well supported by other staff runners and we are very proud of them all."

You can still donate to Nas' fundraiser HERE