Cambridge Writers for Ukraine come together to raise funds

A Cambridge Writers for Ukraine event held at Hot Numbers Café raised around £3,500. All of the writers involved live in or near Cambridge.

Hollie McNish, Francis Spufford, Guinevere Glasfurd, John Greening, Melissa Fu and historian Caroline Shenton were all part of the line-up, and Leigh Chambers of Cambridge 105 radio co-hosted the event with Tessa Byars.

There was sponsorship from Hot Numbers and a variety of businesses on Mill Road and elsewhere, as well as Anglia Ruskin University. A raffle on the night at the Gwydir Street café was held in aid of a 12-year-old Ukrainian girl, the ward of Olenka Pevny, a professor at the Department of Slavonic Studies at Cambridge University, and raised £200.

Olenka is desperately trying to get a UK visa for her so she can bring her to Cambridge. Tessa Byars, who reveals she may stage another event, said that the writers were all “very generous” with their time. She was delighted with the sum raised, adding: “It is pretty amazing. From all the feedback I’ve had, everybody enjoyed it – people were incredibly positive about it.”

All of the funds – apart from a raffle – go to the UNHCR Ukraine Appeal. To donate, go to bit.ly/3yT9qFw.

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