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In December, Nicolai Skarsgård and Lars Mariero joined a convoy organized by the Fritt Ukraina foundation, traveling from Oslo to Ukraine. They brought along pickups and vans loaded with 26 Norwegian-made walkers and forearm walkers.
The equipment, developed and manufactured by Topro in Gjøvik, was donated to Unbroken Ukraine, a hospital in Lviv specializing in the rehabilitation of injured soldiers.
More Amputations Than During World War I
“There are over 8 million residents aged 60 and older in Ukraine. Just six months after the full-scale invasion, the number of amputees in Ukraine had already surpassed the total number of amputations from all of World War I”, says Mariero.
They established contact with the rehabilitation team at the Unbroken hospital in Lviv and quickly confirmed that the need for rehabilitation equipment was immense.
Nicolai Skarsgård and Lars Mariero are both doctors but currently work in the business sector. Skarsgård is the CEO of Topro, and Mariero is the chairman of the same company. Additionally, Mariero is a partner at the private equity fund Serendipity Partners, which owns Topro together with Verdane.
Both live in Oslo. Nicolai grew up on Nesøya, and Lars is from Stavanger.
Topro, based in Gjøvik, has been producing high-quality mobility aids for over 30 years. The Topro representatives identified a need where they could make a difference.
“As doctors, we have a special commitment to the medical consequences of the war”, says Mariero.
He also has close Ukrainian friends who were in Kyiv and Kharkiv when the invasion began and managed to make their way to Norway.
A Critical Role in War-Torn Ukraine
Over the past few years, Unbroken has expanded and upgraded its facilities to meet the growing need for advanced rehabilitation of injured soldiers.
The corridors are lined with photos of some of the many patients. Yevhen Shvab (28), a police officer, lost his right leg when a grenade struck the trench he was in. He spent 40 days in intensive care before beginning his rehabilitation at Unbroken.
“Unbroken plays a critical role in helping soldiers and civilians recover from the injuries caused by the war”, says Lars Mariero. “The hospital offers rehabilitation, psychological treatment, and even has its own prosthetics workshop.”
Skarsgård describes the visit as follows:
“It was incredibly inspiring to see their fantastic work up close and how they have managed to renovate and expand the entire hospital to meet the almost unimaginable needs created by the war.”
Mariero adds:
“The reaction from the head of the rehabilitation unit made the trip worthwhile on its own. He was a physiotherapist actively involved in patient care. He pulled out his phone and showed us the patients he could help with the new equipment.”
Delivered Vehicles to the Frontline
The vehicles used to transport aid equipment to the hospital were sent onward to the frontline.
“The vehicles we drove will be used at the front, thanks to donations and the work of Fritt Ukraina”, explains Skarsgård.
CEO of Topro Nicolai Skarsgård, Head of the Hospital in Lviv Yulian Holyk, Head of the Unbroken Rehab Center Oleg Bilyanskiy, Chairman of Topro Lars Mariero, and Peter Warren from Fritt Ukraina. Photo: Yrjar Garshol
Skarsgård is clearly impressed by the foundation’s efforts:
“I am so impressed by how professional Fritt Ukraina is and the enormous impact their work has”, he says.
Lviv: A City of Hope and Vitality
During his stay in Lviv, Skarsgård also experienced the city’s unique atmosphere, despite the gravity of the war.
An unexpected experience was enjoying fantastic coffee and food in Lviv. It reminds us that Ukraine is a country full of hope, ready to rise with incredible strength after the war, says Skarsgård.
A Possible Start to a Trade Partnership
The need for high-quality mobility aids is clearly established, and Topro is now working to expand its collaboration with Unbroken.
The Trip Had a Purpose Beyond Donations. Ukraine needs and desires trade and networking with the West.
“Just as important as providing support in the form of equipment and money is establishing relationships and initiating trade. This gives them access to Western goods, creates jobs, and, most importantly, strengthens ties with the West”, says Lars Mariero.
Transport Number 46
The trip Mariero and Skarsgård participated in was Fritt Ukraina’s 46th transport.
The transport consisted of four vehicles and four people in total, along with a cargo of 24 walkers and two forearm walkers.
Alongside Lars Mariero and Nicolai Skarsgård, Peter Warren and Yrjar Garshol from Fritt Ukraina also participated.
About Topro
Topro Industri AS is a Norwegian company with roots dating back to 1966. The company was originally established to create local jobs. Based in Gjøvik, Topro has been producing mobility aids since 1990. Today, Topro is Europe’s largest manufacturer of mobility aids, with approximately 160 employees, a turnover of around NOK 400 million, and an export share of 80%.