Seven wounded Ukrainians, four defenders and three civilians will take part in the 42-kilometer Paris Marathon on April 12 using their own wooden racing chairs. The initiative is designed to draw the world’s attention to the consequences of the Russian war and the needs of the wounded.
This was reported in a press release by United Help Ukraine (UHU).
10 people will take part in the marathon: seven wounded Ukrainians and three members of the support team. And their participation was made possible thanks to the cooperation of the American charity United Help Ukraine and French designer Paul de Livron. He is the founder of the company Apollo Wooden Wheelchairs, which specializes in making wheelchairs from wood.
“Seven guys who became my friends while working with me for five weeks in the Apollon workshop at the rehabilitation center in Lviv. Together we learned a lot and made significant progress!”, – noted Paul de Livron.
Paul de Livron also plans plans to join the marathon with a wheelchair that he made himself from Ukrainian wood. In the back of the chair, he inlaid a symbolic iron trident, which he cut from a fragment of a Russian titanium rocket donated by Ukrainian veterans.
Under his leadership, the participants independently made wooden chairs during rehabilitation workshops at the “Unbroken Ukraine” workshop in Lviv. The uniqueness of the project lies in the use of wood as a symbol of rebirth and resilience. In particular, in his works, the designer even uses burnt oak beams from the restoration of Notre Dame Cathedral, turning them into functional objects of mobility.
The race will be held as part of the Schneider Electric Marathon de Paris in Paris. The start is scheduled at Zhoda Square and the finish is near Foch Avenue.
“In the fifth year of the full-scale war in Ukraine, the world’s attention has waned — but the need for support has not disappeared. This event demonstrates the resilience of wounded Ukrainians and draws attention to the urgent needs: the war has already resulted in over 500,000 wounded defenders and over 140,000 amputations in just four years. Public support remains strong despite the weakening of institutional attention, and the race itself demonstrates the transatlantic partnership needed to support wounded Ukrainians, combining American humanitarian assistance, French rehabilitation innovations, and Ukrainian resilience,” United Help Ukraine emphasizes.
Background
United Help Ukraine is a 501(c)(3) American nonprofit organization founded in 2014. Its mission is to provide critical assistance to Ukrainians to help them survive the war, protect and restore their sovereign territory, and rebuild the country and develop in the future. UHU has provided nearly $90 million in humanitarian, medical, psychological and other assistance to people affected by Russia’s unprovoked aggression, and advocates for a free, democratic and independent Ukraine.
Paul de Livron established Apollo Wooden Wheelchairs with the aim of changing the traditional perception of wheelchairs. His approach is based on artisanal precision and sustainable development: he uses wood instead of metal or plastic to create lightweight, durable and aesthetically pleasing products. The Apollo Wooden Wheelchairs project involves the development of a wide range of wooden wheelchair models: for children and the elderly, for athletes and people with limited mobility, for classic and original models. But always with the main goal that is the basis of the project: to develop high-performance wheelchair models that can also be manufactured in developing countries for local populations, using local wood resources. The project is named after the Greek god Apollo, who is, among other things, the god of a certain form of beauty and healing. De Livron’s project has received international recognition for its innovation and humanistic mission. His company is involved in programs to support people with limited mobility and draws attention to the importance of human-centered design.
“I like to tell people that my mission with Apollo Wooden Inchairs is, first and foremost, to take care of those who cannot walk on Earth,” says Paul de Livron.
Photo: Paul de Livron’s Instagram
Author: Inna Mikhno