A Teddington resident’s ambulance convoy has begun its journey to Ukraine to assist soldiers in the fight against the Russian invasion.
Simon Brake, 59, a software company co-founder, raised money to purchase ambulances as part of Mighty Convoy, a charitable organisation he set up in April last year.
With the help of South London volunteers, the ambulances will head from the UK to the Polish border, and from the Polish border to Lviv in Ukraine.
Brake said: “After all the paperwork issues and logistics and last-minute planning, that moment we get there, to finally get over the border, will be a great feeling.”
Brake and his band of local volunteers started at Teddington and headed to the Eurotunnel exit in Calais, driving through the south of the Netherlands and into Germany, followed by a ‘big meal’ before setting off for Poland and, eventually, western Ukraine.
Recollecting a picture of a blown-up ambulance, shown to him by the CMAU (Christian Medical Association of Ukraine) during an email exchange, Brake was convinced that ambulances were paramount to providing humanitarian support to Ukraine.
With encouragement from his wife Jane, a fellow charity organiser and retired GP, the couple decided to start raising funds to provide humanitarian support to Ukraine.
Brake said: “We can’t afford to not support Ukraine; if we don’t help Ukraine resist now, we won’t be able to resist in the future.”
In addition to ambulances, the convoy will be carrying 10,000 food pouches, each one containing a much-needed meal for one person, courtesy of the Country Food Trust.
According to an assessment by the U.S. Defence Intelligence Agency, as reported by Reuters, Ukraine has suffered 124,500-131,000 total casualties, including 15,500-17,500 killed in action and 109,000-113,500 wounded in action.
To donate follow this link and for more information about the organisation visit Mighty Convoy’s website here.
Featured image credit: Mighty Convoy
