Perham Students Raise Money for Ukrainian Foreign Exchange Student’s Home Country

Photo via Perham-Dent Public Schools

PERHAM (KDLM) – Perham High School students came together to raise money for a Ukranian foreign exchange student’s home country, Friday.

Bohdan Cherkay, came to Perham as part of a Foreign Exchange Student Program sponsored by the United States Government. His father, an ex-soldier is now fighting in the Russian-Ukrainian War.

Cherkay along with classmates in Perham raised money for Ukraine, Friday by hosting a Muscle Ball Tournament.

Cherkay told the Perham School District in a recent interview that his friends in Ukraine are one of the main reasons why he decided he needed to do something to help. “That is one of the reasons why I decided to do something, to work on this fundraiser. I cannot just tell them not to worry while being safe here. It just feels wrong. I felt a need to do something that will help them and maybe save someone’s life,” Bohdan said. “I feel like I must do something. By sitting here and just watching the news, I am not doing anything. If an opportunity presented itself and I didn’t act, I would regret it for the rest of my life.”

The Muscle Ball tournament is one of several fundraising ideas that students have participated in. Recently, the Perham Student Council hosted a coin drive that raised more than $1,700.