TMZ.com
Ballerina Kirsten Bloom Allen is pulling off the near-impossible … getting life-saving supplies to a fellow dancer in Ukraine, who’s been forced to put aside his true passion so he can defend his country.
Oleksii Potiomkin says he wanted to help his fellow Ukrainians and protect his family at all costs, but supplies were scarce. When he and Kirsten joined us Wednesday on TMZ Live, she explained why she refused to sit by idly while a fellow dancer was in need.
Kirsten tells us she reached out to Oleksii online — they knew each other through dance — and they created a list of things needed for the Hospitallers, a volunteer paramedic group he joined that tends to Ukraine’s wounded soldiers.
Kirsten says she shipped the supplies to another ballet dancer in Amsterdam, who took them through Poland and to Oleksii in Ukraine. Now, she’s launched a fundraiser, hoping to get more supplies into the country such as medical supplies and food.
Oleksii tells us this war is forcing people from all walks of life to step up and fight for the cause. He started helping people on his own with medicine and aid, even before joining the Hospitallers.
Heroic and inspirational — both fitting words for what Oleksii and Kristen are doing to protect Ukraine, and to help others heal.
Kirsten is asking anyone wanting to donate to head to her website, kirstenbloomallen.com