Margarita Korchagina

My name is Stuart Carroll and I am raising money to help Margarita Korchagina find a new home and replace her things after her home in Bilopillya, Ukraine, where she had lived since 1956, was destroyed by a Russian bomb that fell 3 meters from where she was sitting. I learned of this loss from Margarita's daughter Yuliia Korobova, a professor at Sumy State University who is a colleague and friend of mine, and I wanted to do whatever I could to help. My birthday is coming up on April 21 and I want to make this my birthday fundraiser.

Margarita is 85 years old, and has lived her entire adult life in her home. She is well known for her gardens, which have flowers that cycle into bloom from May until October - she generously gifts these to her neighbours. Margarita was a civil engineer and designed many of the buildings in Bilopilya and other parts of the Sumy region - as many of these were destroyed by bombs, Yuliia tried to spare her the news, but Margarita learned about the losses on television, and tragically, on March 25, her own home fell victim to the constant assault on her village which is only 10 kilometers from the border.

The Ukrainian government gives what it can to help those made homeless by the war but it is never enough, so your donations will be appreciated and will be used thoughtfully and carefully.