A fifth ambulance bought through the fundraising efforts of an Eden-based garden centre and tearoom this week set off from Cumbria to be used in support of Ukraine’s continuing war with Russia.
Paul Thomas, co-owner of The Pot Place Garden Centre, based at Station Yard, Plumpton, said a convoy of vehicles being taken to Ukraine also included three paramedic motorcycles and a first 4×4.
“We have crowdfunded to buy the ambulance and the 4×4 through our JustGiving page, but we have many private donations on top of that which visitors make at the garden centre.
“The Penrith Old Codgers Club put on a fundraising concert for us at the cricket club and Penrith Lions have been very supportive, too,” said Paul.
He added: “The ambulance was bought from a company who provide medical cover for events like motor racing, based in the Midlands.
“It has come straight out of service so all the equipment works, as do the lights and sirens etc. The 4×4 we bought locally.
“Even though there is much less coverage of the invasion of Ukraine in the news, it is still going on as ferociously as a year ago. Our own Kateryna Karabadzhak (a refugee from Ukraine) who works in our garden shop has just been home to Kharkiv.
“She sees many internal refugees there from the areas around the city. There are rockets and drones landing every night despite many being shot down. Her partner is in the border force doing just that.
“So, the question is ‘why do we carry on doing what we do to support the emergency services in Ukraine?’ It is easy, we have family and friends there now. They live with the constant battle against the Russian army and we must do whatever we can to help. If Ukraine falls, which country is next?
“The team coming this time is the same as our last run, in May — myself, Norman Tolson, Jim Kerr and Alan Butcher.
“We’ll be loading one of the bikes into the ambulance and the other two we’ll ride there. Norman, Alan and myself all have motorcycles, so that’s no problem. With luck we’ll cross the border and arrive in Lviv on Saturday, 14th October.
“Thanks to our fundraisers and donations from local organisations we’ll also be carrying medical equipment that will be of use to those close to the frontline.
“We’re still taking donations through our Just Giving page — at www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/the-pot-place-ambulances-for-ukraine”
