On Saturday April 16, our Pole Vault Carolina community came together for a purpose higher than the bar – to gather donations and raise money for refugee children in Ukraine.
We opened the event with a video message from Steve Chappell of UCS Spirit and a letter from Ukrainian Olympian Yana Hladiychuk. The message to our athletes was that even the smallest kindness is better than indifference. We thank Steve and Debbie Chappell and Yana for setting us up for a successful day!
Our families hauled in bags and boxes of baby clothes, blankets, clothes for children and teens, adults, and small sports equipment. They had each reached out to their neighbors, schools and churches for donations. They handed us checks and donated through Venmo. We may be small but we are mighty.
💙To everyone who donated something, thank you so much for the effort. As one donor put it, ‘I have it and don’t need it. The refugees need it.’ Exactly.
💛To everyone who used the honor system to pay for food and drink and merch, thank you for your integrity.
💙To all our parents who stepped in to set up the technology, (Patrick), run the merch and food booth, (Keith and Anu) shout encouragement to our athletes, (Everyone) get Sofia electrolytes after she coached 5 athletes before competing herself, and find Adele’s phone, (Patrick) we thank you!
💛To the Athletes in the Back – the awesome cheering squad behind the pit who kept the energy high and the bar well tended: El, Larkin, Rebecca, Sarah, Brooke, Ruby, Alyssa, Danica, Adora, Annalise, Oliver, Jack, Jack, Jon, Maddie, and Bailey. 🎉
💙Photographer Meryn Johnson spent the day taking thousands of photos! We will have those available for you in the coming days.
💛To DJ Antonio who kept the music bumping and who took all the song requests!
💙To everyone who joined us in willing the rain away!
💛To Jimmy John’s for bringing the sandwiches!
💙To Carter for teaching everyone The Clap!
Pole Vault Carolina! You. Are. AWESOME!!
#polevault #polevaultcommunity #polevaulting #polevaultclub #polevaultcarolina #athletes_for_ukraine #jimmyjohns #durhamnc
