What started as a sporting day on the VUB campus turned into a powerful act of solidarity for Ukraine. During the Soudal Brussels Universities Cyclocross on 16th February 2025, an unexpected initiative was launched: a team of VUBers gathered hundreds of warm scarves and other aid items for the victims of the war in Ukraine.
The team in action
The initiative came about almost by chance. Walter Vermander, a VUB alumnus and chairman of the Passe Partout Foundation, crossed paths with Jos Verschueren, VUB’s Director of Sports Management, during the cyclocross event. Walter, who has been involved in humanitarian missions for years, recognised the opportunity to send the leftover scarves from the event to Ukraine. "When I saw how many scarves were left, I immediately thought: why not send them to people who need them desperately?"
The idea quickly grew into a collective effort. Jos Verschueren and other VUBers worked together to gather 480 scarves (total weight: 120 kg), fleece blankets, and other materials like wheelchairs. This was just the beginning. What followed was a first shipment of goods to Lviv, a city in western Ukraine, where they were received by the Student Fraternity of Lviv Region, an NGO that has been helping the victims of the war since the conflict began.
"What strikes you the most is the overwhelming number of graves, yet in Lviv, you also see the determination to carry on despite the war"
This mission marked the 11th trip to Ukraine for Walter and his team. "The situation in Ukraine is heart-wrenching," Walter explains. "What really hits you is the sheer number of graves in the cemeteries. But at the same time, in Lviv, you see the will to keep going, to continue normal life despite the war." With this mission behind him, Walter looks forward to expanding cooperation with the VUB and other organisations in Brussels.
Lviv cemetery, Ukraine
Would you like to contribute to the aid efforts for Ukraine? Get in touch with Walter Vermander for more information on how you can help with donations or other resources.