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Kelowna mom looks to help equip ex-military members heading to Ukraine; launches fundraiser

Bonnie Penner started The Bravery Foundation
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Ukrainian servicemen help an elderly woman, in the town of Irpin, Ukraine, Sunday, March 6, 2022. With the Kremlin’s rhetoric growing fiercer and a reprieve from fighting dissolving, Russian troops continued to shell encircled cities and the number of Ukrainians forced from their country grew to over 1.4 million. (AP Photo/Andriy Dubchak)

A Kelowna mother is raising funds to support and outfit ex-military members going to fight in Ukraine.

Bonnie Penner started The Bravery Foundation to help support some forces in Ukraine battling the Russian military.

“A lot of these guys don’t even have the basic gear,” added Penner. “Then of course they need medical supplies, not just for themselves but also for civilians. That is their ultimate goal, to extract Ukraine civilians that are trapped. The group liberated a Ukraine village a few days ago.”

Penner said her foundation has received large amounts of material donations such as body armour and medical supplies but what’s really needed is cash, for items such as airline tickets and extra baggage charges for military gear. Much of the money donated to Penner’s foundation has come from the average individual. She said she has been disappointed with the response from the corporate community.

“I don’t have a problem saying that,” she said. “I am proud of the grassroots movement people that don’t have much that have been contributing.”

There are local companies supporting Penner’s cause. CanHost Webhosting, which looks after The Bravery Foundation website. Acorn Law, which is providing living wills and powers of attorney for the ex-military members going to Ukraine, and the Save-On-Foods store on Lakeshore Road.

“On the Easter long weekend, Good Friday, they are letting me set up a table to hand out pamphlets and collect donations from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.,” she said.

More information about the foundation and donations can be found on The Bravery Foundation website.

Read More: Kelowna man in Ukraine to fight in war against Russia

Read More: Cranbrook man heading to Ukraine to support defence against Russian military invasion


@GaryBarnes109
gary.barnes@kelownacapnews.com

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Gary Barnes

About the Author: Gary Barnes

Recently joined Kelowna Capital News and WestK News as a multimedia journalist in January 2022. With almost 30 years of experience in news reporting and radio broadcasting...
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