- Olena Sadovska went viral on
TikTok with a 24-hour "Stairmaster challenge forUkraine ." - Her video sparked a debate on the app about whether a TikTok challenge could make a genuine impact.
Ukrainian-American TikToker Olena Sadovska posted a challenge walking on the stairclimber machine at her local gym for 24 hours on March 26. She went viral overnight, and her videos about the challenge have a combined total of 16 million views.
@olena.sadovska Brining awareness to what is happening in Ukraine! #standwithukraine #ukraine #ukrainian #stairmaster #InstaxChallenge #OscarsAtHome #BridgertonScandal #WomenOwnedBusiness #HaloSilverTeam #gym #gymtok #gymlife #fitness #fittok #workout #health #gymrat #gymotivation #strongwomen #fitcheck #gymroutine ♬ original sound - speed up sounds lol
She shared links to a GoFundMe page that she made to raise money for California-based non-profit Ukraine Relief, which was created after Russia's invasion to support struggling families. She has since raised $11,605.
However, her viral videos sparked debate in the comments, with people arguing over whether a TikTok challenge could have a significant impact on the conflict in Ukraine.
On Sadovska's first video about her challenge, which now has 13 million views, she wrote in the caption that she was "bringing awareness to what is happening in Ukraine."
Many top comments criticized the TikToker for her attempt to raise funds. "Good job for making real world problems about yourself," one comment with 3,000 likes said. Another comment with 2,400 likes said, "how is this helping."
Other commenters defended Sadovska's attempt to raise money. "What is wrong with people? She's raised more money than me or anyone I know. Why you bashing her for raising money? It's literally called charity," one comment with 2,900 likes said. Other commenters wrote, "You are amazing" and "so proud of you."
The 18-year-old told Insider that by posting the challenge on TikTok, she was able to reach a larger audience, attracting donations from people who were not following her before she made her videos.
"A lot of people were saying things like, 'if she really cared she wouldn't bring this to social media.' But actually, it's the complete opposite because I would have never gotten as many donations if I didn't post about it. The only people that would have been aware of this would have been my close family, and the people that live in my town," she said.
@olena.sadovska SO SO GREATFUL! ❤️❤️ #standwithukraine #standwithukraine #ukraine #ukraine ♬ ribs 2 -
Sadovska said she chose a stairclimber workout because these challenges are currently very popular on the app. One of the most viral formats that people, including Sadovska, have taken part in, is a challenge involving walking on the machine for 90 minutes straight. Fitness experts previously told Insider that spending extended periods of time on a Stairmaster can cause injury by stressing your joints and can also be an "ineffective" way to lose weight.
Sadovska, who now has 87,000 TikTok followers, told Insider she only had about 6,000 followers before her videos went viral. But she said gaining online popularity "wasn't the whole point."
Now that she has a larger following, she said she plans to do more fundraising challenges, and also film videos explaining to her new followers, most of whom are not Ukrainian, why this topic is so important to her.
@olena.sadovska Please sign the petition to close the sky over Ukraine and donate to families! #standwithukraine #ukraine #InstaxChallenge #OscarsAtHome #BridgertonScandal #WomenOwnedBusiness #HaloSilverTeam ♬ Forever - Labrinth
Overall, Sadovska said she thinks TikTok is "an awesome way to raise awareness about anything because it reaches so many people all around the world."
For more stories like this, check out coverage from Insider's Digital Culture team here.