Jakob Kepka: Pedaling for Ukrainian Amputees
Author: Jeff Tiessen
To say that Jakob Kepka is a serious cyclist is far beyond an understatement.
The above-knee amputee pedaled over 20,000 kilometres last year.
Kepka is a man of purpose, which speaks to those endless hours on his bike… all of them in preparation for his Hoperaising Expedition in Ukraine. His 900-kilometre cross-border ride from Krakow to Kyiv serves his mission to
raise awareness for war amputees in Ukraine. As he pedals through the war-torn terrain, Kepka aspires to be a beacon
of hope for those with similar injuries to his own, showcasing the resilience and determination of the human spirit in the
face of adversity.
Now living in London, Ontario, the veteran of the Canadian Army Reserves and the United States Marine Corps as an Infantry Rifleman, Kepka was raised on an Eastern Ontario farm not far off the St. Lawrence River between Brockville
and Cornwall, Ontario.
Two years ago, at the beginning of Russia’s war on Ukraine, Kepka was determined to go to Ukraine to help, but fearful that no humanitarian aid organization would accept an amputee volunteer. But it did, appreciating that his fortitude could contribute in some way to Ukraine’s survival.
While there, he saw new amputees gazing at his “bionic” leg with wonder. He became determined to help give these Ukrainians every opportunity they deserve to receive the prosthetic devices they need. Upon his return to Canada, he sourced and donated over $100,000 of used prosthetic componentry, including some of his own. He shipped sixteen boxes of hardware to Ukrainian prosthetists to be repurposed through the U.S. prosthetic humanitarian aid organization Penta Prosthetics.
And now his ride, which also serves as a fundraising effort, with the goal of generating support for the rehabilitation of Ukrainian amputees, to ensure that they receive the necessary care and resources for their recovery.
While there, he saw new amputees gazing at his “bionic” leg with wonder. He became determined to help give these Ukrainians every opportunity they deserve to receive the prosthetic devices they need. Upon his return to Canada, he sourced and donated over $100,000 of used prosthetic componentry, including some of his own. He shipped sixteen boxes of hardware to Ukrainian prosthetists to be repurposed through the U.S. prosthetic humanitarian aid organization Penta Prosthetics.
And now his ride, which also serves as a fundraising effort, with the goal of generating support for the rehabilitation of Ukrainian amputees, to ensure that they receive the necessary care and resources for their recovery.
Just weeks before he left for Ukraine to map out the Hoperaising Expedition, Kepka sat down with thrive magazine to share his story and his mission. Read Kepka's story of limb loss, rehab and recovery, and the inspiration for his incredible journey.
How to resolve AdBlock issue?