Beckham hands over his Instagram account with over 71 million followers to Ukrainian doctor
Manchester United and England legend David Beckham over the weekend went beyond the lines to hand over his Instagram account with over 71 million followers to a Ukrainian doctor.
The gesture was to allow the doctor, Iryna, an anaesthesiologist working in Kharkiv, one of the cities under heavy attack by the Russian military. It was to allow Miss Iryna to share with the world how it is working to save children’s lives during the war in the eastern European nation.
He wrote on Instagram, “Today I’m handing over my social channels to Iryna, the Head of the Regional Perinatal Centre in Kharkiv, Ukraine where she is helping mothers give birth.
“Head over to my story highlights to learn more about the amazing work Iryna and health workers like her are doing to save lives in Ukraine. Please give what you can to support @UNICEF and people like Iryna using the donation link in my bio.”
Iryna said the first day of the invasion was the most difficult. She said, though the doctors and nations feel they are risking their lives, they do not stop to think of it. They cry but they will not give up.
She said, “It was a terrible three hours that we spent together,” she said on Beckham’s Instagram stories. “Unfortunately, we can’t take babies who are in intensive care to the basement because they rely on life-saving equipment.
“The first days were the most difficult. We had to learn how to work with bombings and strikes.”
Beckham who is an ambassador for UNICEF has been raising awareness and making fund raising efforts towards the provision of aid to Ukraine.
The former England international posted, “More than 1 million Ukrainian children have become refugees in the past two weeks. Thank you so much to everyone who has donated to my 7 Fund for @UNICEF Emergency Appeal. I spoke to UNICEF’s James Elder in Lviv, Ukraine to see how our donations are helping them get aid to those that need it most. It is truly heroic work in appalling conditions for children and their families. Please take a moment to watch and give what you can today 🙏🏻 Link to donate in my bio”.
