Driving Ukraine: North Yorkshire men deliver aid to Ukraine

Mark Farrow, a computer expert from Scorton and Stephen White, an administrator from Richmond raised more than £5,000 to buy a 4 x 4 pickup and drove it in convoy with other volunteers from Driving Ukraine.

Navigating seven countries and 1,300 miles along the way, they delivered the vehicle packed with medical supplies and equipment, ambulance gear and even a drone, all donated by individuals and organisations in North Yorkshire.

Mark and Stephen next to the converted vehicle (Image: SUPPLIED) “As soon as we arrived, the pick-up was in the workshop to be converted into an emergency rescue vehicle. Other vehicles in the convoy will be used as ambulances. The Ukrainians need so much and are so grateful for everything we can do for them, ” said Mark.

Among the volunteers was 82-year-old Bryan Selkirk from Catterick Garrison.

Mark added: “He was ex-army -37 years - and got in touch when he read about our plans. He’d driven military convoys into Eastern Europe before so his knowledge was really useful.

“We got to Lviv in time for their military memorial weekend and he spent a lot of time talking to veterans.”

The Ukrainians took the volunteers to see the military cemetery.

Mark and Stephen travelled 1300 miles in total to Ukraine (Image: SUPPLIED) “All the graves were decorated with flowers and photographs. We were told that every single truck would help keep another soldier out of that graveyard," Mark added.

Although Lviv was damaged and heavily sandbagged, people were getting on with their lives as usual, according to Mark and the other volunteers.

Above all, said Mark, all the Ukrainians they met were so grateful to Britain for their help, to make them feel they had not been forgotten.

Stephen White (left) Bryan Selkirk (3rd from left) Mark Farrow (2nd right) with members of the Driving Ukraine team (Image: SUPPLIED) “Even when we were on the ferry, coming over, a Ukrainian lorry driver came to thank us and gave us all his Polish zloty so we could buy a meal when we were passing through Poland," Mark said.

As well as vital equipment, they also took lots of chocolate bars and two crates of beer donated by the Wensleydale Brewery. “We left that for the guys in the workshop to give them a treat We’re going to send them a Yorkshire flag too.

“We made more than we needed for the first truck which means we ‘ve already got something towards taking another one out there and hope to go out again in the spring.

Most read:

• Hospices at crisis point facing 'unsustainable' financial pressures
• Horror as County Durham mum killed by ottoman bed which fell trapping her neck
• County Durham woman stabbed partner in back after drunken domestic row

Get more from The Northern Echo with a digital subscription. Get access to the latest offer for annual or monthly subscription. Click here for details.

Just this week someone locally has donated two former NHS ambulances. This weekend Mark is driving one down to Oxford so it can be prepped for its new life before the journey to Ukraine.

“Now we’ve seen how much they need our help and how grateful they are for it, we’ve just got to go back and do more.”

People can donate to their continued cause here.