Mercy mission as medical supplies head for Ukraine
Mid Argyll Helps Ukraine has been fundraising to help get medical supplies on their way to the war-torn country.
A consignment of the life-saving equipment will be winging its way to Ukraine from Mid Argyll in March, thanks to a network of hard-working volunteers.
Volunteers Amanda Duffy Brown and Nikki Thompson met up with Chris North and his wife Janice on Thursday February 1 to pick up medical supplies donated to the charity by Mid Argyll Community Hospital.
Nikki explained: “Chris is from Dunoon and is part of a fantastic team of ex-military lads who have been supporting Ukraine since the start of the conflict.
“The team, known on social media as ‘Charlie, Puggy,
Stig and Grif go East’ are set to make their 14th trip to Cieszanow in Poland where they will deliver another consignment of humanitarian aid to the charity, Fundacja Humanitarna Folkowisko.
“The aid, which has been donated from throughout Scotland and England, will then be distributed to where it’s most needed in Ukraine, including the front line, refugee shelters and hospitals.”
She said the Polish charity was also undertaking an extensive refurbishment programme to rebuild 14 medical clinics which have been destroyed.
“Chris and his colleagues hope to fill both their vans for the mission on March 8 and, if needed, they will source a third,” she added.
Chris’s wife Janice, who works in the Argyll Hotel in Dunoon, will once again join the team on the five-day trip.
Like most voluntary groups, they rely very much on fundraising and donations to pay for the mercy missions, which cost around £1,300 per van to cover fuel and ferry fares.
Nikki said: “We are happy to be in a position to support their venture and have gifted them £100 from the Mid Argyll Helps Ukraine fundraising pot.
“We’d like to thank Chris for travelling from Dunoon to uplift our medical supplies.
“Also a huge thanks to Marta Skuza for gathering everything together for us and the Mid Argyll Hospital for the very kind donation which will make such a difference to the medics in Ukraine.
“We are happy to once again accept donations of medical supplies/equipment.
“If you think you may have medical items we can send out please ping us a wee message [via Mid Argyll Helps Ukraine Facebook page].”