One of my patients, Jan Woods, and her husband, Edward, transported an ambulance from London to Ukraine last September, full of medical supplies, night-vision goggles, drones, and other vital aid equipment. They did so through an organization called “Trucks for the Troops,” an effort started by a group of American and British friends with family connections to Ukraine. (More on them below.)
When I heard of Jan and Edward’s inspiring adventure, and the impact of their generous donation of money and time, I felt compelled to help. I immediately contacted the Board of Directors of the Foundation for Athletic Research and Education (FARE), a foundation I co-founded in the 1970s with basketball great Wilt Chamberlain. The board agreed to help Ukraine.
We then contacted a longtime friend, Don Petersen Jr. (publisher of Dynamic Chiropractic), to ask what he knew of chiropractic in Ukraine. He introduced me to Dr. Nazar Kharivskyy, president of the Ukrainian Chiropractic Association.
Following the Russian invasion, Dr. Kharivskyy had to close his clinic; due to the frequent missile strikes on Ukraine’s power grid, he no longer had electricity. Since the beginning of the war, Dr. Kharivskyy has been treating Ukrainian soldiers for free.
His wife, a notary, continues her work and remains in Ukraine with their 3-year-old son, while they sent their 10-year-old daughter to attend school in South Carolina. We were able to arrange for Dr. Kharivskyy to visit me. He helped me to better understand what supplies are needed on the ground in Ukraine.
Since 1895, chiropractors have been persecuted for their nondrug, nonsurgical approach to healing. In the 1970s and ‘80s, with the help of Jim Wooley, DC (Olympic judo, 1972, 1976), we fought the American Medical Association (AMA) and its members. With the help of public opinion, we finally persevered against a concerted campaign of misinformation, and the AMA appointed a chiropractic doctor as an official Olympic team doctor.
Our community came together to overcome these challenges. We now should join again to help the Ukrainian people fight the fundamental injustice of Russia’s invasion. The Ukrainians, under President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, have fought bravely for their freedom. It is time for the chiropractic profession both in the U.S. and Europe to support their plight.
If every chiropractor galvanized his or her community, we could make a meaningful contribution to the Ukrainian people fighting for their rights and democratic freedom. This is not a political issue; it is an issue of fundamental human rights.
Among the many groups and organizations doing powerful work, the one that captured my attention is Trucks for the Troops. Civilian SUVs and trucks play a vital role in the humanitarian and military effort in Ukraine. They are used to transport troops, stage supplies, medicine and equipment, and they are used by frontline units. Vehicles are in short supply and urgently needed.
Hearing this, two friends in London bought a truck, filled it with medicine, bandages, night-vision scopes, and boots; then drove to Western Ukraine and delivered it directly to a frontline soldier who then drove it east, picked up the rest of his team desperately in need of a vehicle, delivered the medical supplies, and re-entered combat operations.
The two friends returned home, recruited other friends to help, and bought another truck – and another. As of today, an astounding 250 vehicles with supplies have been delivered to frontline military and medical units.
All the money Trucks for the Troops receives goes directly to this effort. It spends $0 on staff, premises, media, or merchandise. Every dollar is spent on equipment and getting it to the front line as quickly as possible. Nothing else.
We have partnered with the Envolved Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, to accept and distribute donations. Contributions to the Envolved Foundation are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law. Envolved will forward monetary donations to Trucks for the Troops and ensure donated supplies reach the front line as quickly as possible.
To donate money, please use your phone’s camera to scan the QR code or follow this link: https://envolvedfoundation.org/chiro4ukraine.
If you would like to donate medical or other supplies, a pickup truck, SUV, ambulance, fire engine, or other vehicle, please contact Envolved at chiro4ukraine@envolvedfoundation.org.
Robert Hauser of Hauser Trucking, a patient of mine, donated a fire engine. Greenway2dayInc, owned by my son-in-law Michael Main, daughter Noel, and family, are donating a 40-ft cargo container with 7,000 COVID test kits, 300,000 masks, 25,000 bottles of disinfectant, 16,000 level-1 medical gowns, and 50 blow-up twin and queen mattresses.
There are 55,000 chiropractors in the U.S. and 10,000 in Europe. Together, we can make a difference in helping Ukraine prevail in this senseless battle of suppression and loss of democratic principles. Please help us help Ukraine fight the fundamental injustice of Russia’s invasion.
When sports chiropractors first appeared at the Olympic Games in the 1980s, it was alongside individual athletes who had experienced the benefits of chiropractic care in their training and recovery processes at home. Fast forward to Paris 2024, where chiropractic care was available in the polyclinic for all athletes, and the attitude has now evolved to recognize that “every athlete deserves access to sports chiropractic."
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Some doctors thrive in a personality-based clinic and have a loyal following no matter what services or equipment they offer, but for most chiropractic offices who are trying to grow and expand, new equipment purchases help us stay relevant and continue to service our client base in the best, most up-to-date manner possible. So, regarding equipment purchasing: should you lease, get a bank loan, or pay cash?
