Raising funds for Ukraine: Lancashire women raise almost £4,000 by taking on the challenge of Snowdon, the highest mountain in Wales

Slawka Kluszczynska-Stepien, who works as a Family Group Conference co-ordinator for Lancashire County Council, was part of a group of women who took on the highest mountain in Wales after feeling compelled to act in response to Russian forces launching a full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Slawka and two others climbed to the top of the mountain in their heels, and were accompanied by two other women wearing boots and carrying food supplies.

The women, who all live in north Lancashire and originate from Poland, felt they had to do something, even something small, to support their European neighbours.

However, their response was by no means small.

Climbing 3,560 feet in heels proved extremely difficult, but thankfully everyone in the group safely completed the climb and have so far raised more than £3,600.

Slawka said: "We can still remember how it is to live behind the iron curtain and being unable to have freedom of speech and freedom of movement.

"We don’t want this for Ukrainians or the rest of Europe.

"We also wanted to raise awareness about the conflict and the situation so we felt that challenging ourselves to hike up Snowdon in heels, could help.

"In addition to this, my hometown is only 140 miles away from the Ukrainian border, so this conflict is very close to home."

All the collected funds will go directly to the Polish Humanitarian Action, a Polish based charity that currently works on the Polish/Ukrainian border and provides immediate help to all refugees from Ukraine.

They are currently providing the most essential humanitarian support such as providing blankets, hot food, drinks, toiletries, medical support and hope.

More information and updates about their fundraising activities can be found on this just giving link.

The fundraising page will be open until Tuesday March 15.

The ladies are following in the paths of other fundraisers in Lancashire, who have stepped up to help raise money and appeal for donated goods for the people in Ukraine. They include collections by the Chorley-based International Aid Trust and and an emergency fund to help one of Lancaster's twin towns in Ukraine.