When Russia invaded Ukraine, Natalia Vilcu could hear the airstrikes. She lives in Chișinău, the capital of Moldova. Through the air, the city is less than a hundred miles from Odessa in Ukraine, one of the first places Russian forces hit.
Natalia is the president of a foundation called Life Without Leukemia. It’s part of an effort called SAFER Ukraine. St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and ALSAC, its fundraising and awareness organization, have played a coordinating role in that effort, helping to establish an umbrella of support throughout Europe and even into North America.
St. Jude Inspire podcast host Geoffrey Redick talks with writer Kristina Goetz about Natalia’s experiences helping pediatric cancer patients leave Ukraine to continue treatment.
This episode is free of advertising.
Read Kristina’s story about Life Without Leukemia helping Ukrainian pediatric cancer patients:
https://www.stjude.org/inspire/series/around-the-world/partner-foundation-moldova-evacuate-ukrainian-kids-cancer.html
Learn more about the SAFER Ukraine initiative and donate:
https://www.stjude.org/inspire/series/around-the-world/special-report-ukraine.html
Read Kristina’s story about Natalia’s efforts to save her son:
https://www.stjude.org/inspire/series/around-the-world/how-far-one-mother-would-go.html
Listen to the audio version of that story:
https://www.stjude.org/inspire/podcasts/audio-stories/st-jude-audio-stories-how-far-one-mother-would-go.html
Credits: Hosted by Geoffrey Redick, with reporting by Kristina Goetz. Edited by Grace Korzekwa Evans. Louis Graham is the Executive Producer of St. Jude Inspire.
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