Charity

Rehabilitation of military through sports: a unique charity foundation launched in Ukraine

A charitable foundation, Second Breath UA, has been created in Ukraine to help military personnel and veterans return to active life after being injured through sports, mountain hiking in Ukraine, and other activities, Komersant ukrainskyi reports.

The foundation was founded by the Second Wind project team, namely: Oleksandr Pedan, Gennadiy Gazin, and Anna Vozna.

The creation of the foundation is a continuation of the large-scale media project “Second Breath”, in which Ukrainian soldiers with amputations and a wounded defender made a historic climb to Kilimanjaro and set a world record.

The initiator and producer of the Second Wind project, Gennadiy Gazin , decided to create the Second Wind UA charity foundation after receiving feedback from Ukrainian veterans and military personnel who were inspired by the climb:

“After starting our expedition, we received dozens of messages from veterans. They wrote that they were also wounded and would like to be with us on this adventure. I realized that such challenges are a great way to recover from an injury and return to active life. And there are many more people who need our support, which is why we decided to scale up the Second Wind project and establish a foundation that will operate on a permanent basis.”

The foundation will cooperate with rehabilitation centers, medical institutions and charitable organizations, expanding opportunities for the recovery of Ukrainian soldiers, including those after amputations.

“We want to prove that life after injury continues. It can be filled with new victories, opportunities for self-realization and achievement of goals,” said Oleksandr Pedan, co-founder of the foundation, host and co-producer of the Second Breath project.

“The Foundation will not only support physical rehabilitation, but also form a community of like-minded people. Together, the veterans will overcome challenges, motivate each other and inspire others by their own example. This is not just help – it is an opportunity to find new meanings, strength and support on the way to recovery,” said Anna Vozna, co-founder of the foundation.

Among the main activities of the Second Breath UA Foundation are physical and mental rehabilitation through adaptive sports as a tool for restoring strength, mobility and confidence, as well as creating a community of support, mutual respect and mutual assistance.

The foundation is also currently looking for sponsors. You can learn more and support the initiative on the page of the SECOND BREATH UA charitable foundation.