Dear Friends,
Feet now firmly back on the ground (just) after my somewhat excessive recent travelling. Ukraine was a great eye opener and I cannot thank you all enough for your generous support. Our little group raised in excess of £4000, so I will give you a brief as to how it was spent.
My early advice when I decided to embark on my mission was to avoid throwing money at major charities. Sure enough, there appeared to be many well known organisations with affluent looking people in brand new Toyota Landcruisers staying in very up market Hotels – not appearing to get their hands soiled – unlike Stuart and I, who funded our own travel, sleeping rough, except when we found modest accommodation. We felt that daily, driving hundreds of miles in temperatures in the mid forties, in a 25 year old Transit Van (no air con), grabbing sandwiches in Petrol stations,could, with our combined age of > 150, possibly lead to cumulative fatigue. A wise decision.
Fynn, my inspirational Great Godson, age 21, and his young enthusiastic helpers, however took nothing from the fund and mainly slept in their vans in all sorts of locations. Stuart and I had an understanding (or to be more honest – our wives did) that our Eastern limit was Kyiv. But the young blades had no such reservations and relished the adventure. The joys of youth.
Your contributions helped purchase and operate three old Transit Vans. We daily drove hundreds of miles transporting Medical equipment inc enormous quantities of Insulin. This caused some head scratching, as Insulin did not seem relevant to ‘conflict related’ Medical Aid. But – , due to the domino effect of the conflict or ‘Special Military Operation’ all manner of supply chains were disrupted – including non military supplies of Insulin.
Stuart and I also enjoyed a special bonus. The look of amazement that two silly old English gentlemen (we exceeded their life expectancy by a mere 7 years) were massively inconveniencing themselves on their behalf, and humping ‘tonsastuff’ in and out of our Transit van.
Prior to departing on our mission, I went to the trouble of educating myself a little better on the last couple of centuries of European history. This certainly gave an insight into Russia’s chronic paranoia – the flat open lands to it’s West! Reflect on their extraordinary close shaves with Messrs Napoleon and Hitler.
This in no way lessened the shock and horror of what Putin unleashed on the Ukraine. Our media tends to cast protagonists as opposites – villains v heroes —— but it is rarely so simple. Having said that, it would take a very slewed logic in this case for any reasonable defence of this particular aggressor.
Moving on, before I get too controversial.
We have just purchased three old Ambulances which the gang have just driven down to Lviv en route to Kherson, where they are so desperately needed. I, rather naively, thought that a highly ‘visual’ Ambulance would be relatively safe, due it’s obvious purpose. Wrong !
It seems that Ambulances, Hospitals and Schools are preferred targets for these inhumane aggressors. So – they have all been sprayed Grey !
I am on the list of drivers for the next delivery. Being able to feel that one is helping an oppressed people is a very good feeling (not much good for my Golf – but I don’t believe in miracles).
Many thanks again to all you folks with such a generous disposition.
David