From Stratford to Odesa: Aid and ambulances reach their destination
UKRAINIAN soldiers took delivery of two ambulances full of medical supplies thanks to a marathon 20-hour drive by four friends from south Warwickshire.
Alf Rajkowski set off for the Poland-Ukraine border from Hampton Lucy on Wednesday, 30th March, along with co-drivers Bogdan Letkowski, Richard Timmis and Mark Pritchard-Jeffs.
The friends drove 1,300 miles across six countries and arrived in the Polish city of Rzeszow on the Thursday evening, where the ambulances were handed over and driven to Odesa.
The trip – passing through England, France, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany and Poland – was the first made by Ambulance Aid, a limited company Alf and others set up to buy de-commissioned NHS ambulances and take them to Ukraine.
With the ambulances now successfully delivered and the men back in UK, Alf looked back on the journey and praised everyone involved, from his three fellow drivers to the Ambulance Aid volunteers.
“The other drivers were fantastic,” said Alf. “Bogdan is Polish and he was absolutely brilliant in getting us over. We also have other volunteers that have been in the background organising everything with the funding and so on. They’ve been superb, so I’m very humbled by them all.”
Once they had handed over the ambulances, Alf and the others spent the following day in Krakow, where he said the human cost of the Russian invasion of Ukraine was clear to see.
“There were a lot of refugees, particularly women with young children, and I found that upsetting,” said Alf. “You’ve got a city that’s going on as normal, but with refugees here and there and everywhere. We met one lady who was very reluctant to talk to us because there’s a lot of trafficking going on. It’s a real problem, and I think the women and children there are extremely cautious of talking to strangers because of it. That was very upsetting.”
With donations to Ambulance Aid now nearing £20,000, Alf said the organisation is delighted with the continued support and is preparing for another trip to Poland soon.
“I’d like to thank everybody that’s donated and helped us to achieve what we have,” he said. “Particularly the team behind me. They’ve been exceptional. We’ve managed to do everything without any hitches.
“The ordinary, working people of Stratford have been fantastic with their donations. It’s really appreciated, and every penny that’s been donated is going to a good cause. We actually have another ambulance donated to us – I can’t say where at the moment, but we have it in our possession. So we have got one, and we hope to purchase another two and make another trip shortly.”
The vehicles and supplies were received on the Friday by Ukrainian soldiers, who sent a message of thanks via an Ambulance Aid volunteer.
“The ambulances reached Odesa yesterday – the main military headquarters of the south-eastern part of Ukraine,” they said. “The city was relatively safe to take photos and videos, unpack the vehicles, sort the medicines and decide what medical supplies will go to a frontline in Zaporizhzhia. “We could see and feel that the ambulances were packed with soul. Everything is signed and neatly folded, and we’re very grateful!”
“It is an amazing feeling to know that you support Ukraine even from a different country. Thank you for what you do, this is really very much appreciated.”
