Olga Escapes Alcatraz!

Olga Tseyukova, Chair of Trustees on the Board of the charity Depaul Ukraine, has successfully become the first Ukrainian woman to 'escape from Alcatraz' on 27 August 2012.  She is delighted with her achievement and said "I’m so proud to have completed the challenge and to be the first Ukrainian female to make the escape, despite all the hard work training for this event it’s been worthwhile to know I’ve overcome my fears - and helped to raise funds for the homeless”.    Olga's determination to raise awareness of the difficulties facing homeless people in Ukraine, alongside raising vital funds to keep Depaul's services there up and running, has been what carried her through.

Two years ago Olga couldn’t swim but she wanted to take on a challenge to raise funds for the charity so it seemed a good idea to combine the two goals.  To discover she’d be the first Ukrainian female to make the ‘escape’ crossing was an added motivation.  

It hasn’t been an easy journey for Olga, she’s had to undertake months of rigorous training sessions in her local swimming pool and the open waters off the coast of Odessa and more recently she’s been training in the cold lochs of Scotland.      

According to Olga the experience was well worth it: "There was a great sense of achievement for me when I struggled out of the water.  All the hours in the pool and training in open water had really helped and as I swam I kept telling myself I can do this, I can do this.  Knowing so many people were relying on me too, was a real motivation, I had all my sponsors to think about and I kept remembering the faces of the homeless people I have met at Depaul’s projects and I knew I had to keep going for them. It’s a great feeling to have made history in the process too”.  

Olga continues: "Every day thousands of adults and children face hardships and challenges living rough on the streets.  I hope my fundraising challenge will help to inspire others to follow in my footsteps and do something for Depaul Ukraine.  In doing so we can ensure more homeless people have the chance of a positive and independent future.”  

Depaul Ukraine staff are proud of what their Chair of the Board has achieved and hope more individuals will be willing to take up a challenge and fundraise for Depaul Ukraine.    Click here for more information about services.

To help sponsor Olga and make a donation to ensure she reaches her fundraising target of $10,000 visit her Justgiving page http://www.justgiving.com/Olga-Swims-Alcatraz