My name is Mike. I'm an electrician in Edmonton and married my sweetheart Nataliia last year at a small ceremony here at home. She's been my light and my heart ever since we met.

We've planned to go back to her home country of Ukraine to do a proper wedding ceremony for her family and friends at her village this summer but a very bad winter and economy with some additional surprises have thrown serious wrenches our way and risk my not being able to fulfil this important obligation. Her paperwork is still being processed by the government and is taking far longer than expected (surprise!) to secure permanent work status.

I'm seeking your help to ensure I can provide this important experience for her and for all of them, theyve given everything they have so we can be together and so have I. The coming year looks better, but this year has seen EI run out, work dry up, savings become negligible, and debts slowly creep up.

My hopeful target is airline tickets and train/bus fares totalling $3,500.

Any money raised will be gratefully applied to our airline tickets and trip expenses, as well as any extras we can cover like packages of goods for family there, great school goodies for the kids and classes we like to visit, and to cover some of what her family will need to put on for us during our stay, expenses for friends that house us on our stay etc.

We'll be posting thank you wishes, video clips, photos and more, as well as supporting local charities along the way however possible by donating to ensure underpaid soldiers have clothing and equipment, families displaced by the war receive aid, holodomor (famine-genocide) memorial, and will look into whatever is suggested by supporters. During my trip there a year ago during better times we found many such causes at museums and in local travels. Money goes a lot farther there, so even a few extra dollars helps once we arrive.

We appreciate any kindness you show, and will personally thank you all. I realize this is not a critical world issue, just a request from an everyday person in need. Whether you know me or not, I hope you take it in the genuine, heartfelt spirit it's intended.

We invite you to take part in our future together by helping us start it right. :)

Donations of any size are welcome. Thank you!