The Bolton community is invited to come together next month for a memorial service and fundraising concert to mark the second-year anniversary of the war in Ukraine.
On February 25 from 2pm, residents are invited to attend the service at Bolton Parish Church to remember all the fallen heroes as well as raising funds for those still in the war-torn country.
At the event there will be a ten-minute memorial service followed by a poignant concert with the Ukrainian Chamber Choir Svitoch and other Ukrainian artists performing.
Bolton Branch Chair of AUGB, Yaroslaw Tymchyshyn, said: “The event will start with a religious memorial service which will be to remember the dead heroes and heroines of Ukraine who have given their lives in defence of our homeland.
“Then after that there will be a sombre concert and I have confirmed a male voice choir, plus a mixed voice choir based here in Bolton, I have got two pianists and one of them is Ukrainian who is a world-renowned pianist attending and I have also got a violinist.
“They will all be taking part in the concert to mark the two-year anniversary.
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“It is important people still talk about the war, when the invasion happened nearly two years ago there were sceptics who said Ukraine wouldn’t last three days, they said Zelenskyy would do a runner and the total opposite has happened.
“Zelenskyy stayed, he didn’t go and that gave the Ukrainian people that knowledge that if he is staying then so are we and we are going to fight.
“And now nearly two years later, we are still fighting.
“It does feel never ending and we are trying our best to not only help the Ukrainians residing here but also the Ukrainians in Ukraine because they need our help just as much as anybody else does.
“Humanitarian aid is still required; there are maternity hospitals and orphanages that desperately need our assistance.”
The Mayor of Bolton, Cllr Mohammed Ayub will be in attendance alongside the Lord-Lieutenant of Greater Manchester, Diane Hawkins, Chris Green MP, and a number of councillors.
Attendees are asked to make a donation for admission either on the day or beforehand at the Ukrainian Social Club located at 99 Castle Street.
If you have a story or something you would like to highlight in the community, please email me at chloe.wilson@newsquest.co.uk or DM me on X @chloewjourno.
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