Mercy mission to the East
AVALLEY couple and two brothers were among those heading east having been moved to action by the desperate plight of Ukrainians under attack from Vladimir Putin’s troops.
Peter and Christine Stafford, from Weir, joined Ukraine Equestrian Relief taking supplies to the Poland-Ukraine border. Their 7.5-tonne horse box was loaded full of supplies collected locally after a whirlwind appeal to benefit the plight of refugees.
A convoy of nine horse vehicles set out from Cheshire with vital aid last Thursday, and there are hopes the last remaining members of the Rochdalebased team may be able to bring a refugee family back to the UK on their return.
Christine, 53, said she and her husband, 65, were disappointed to be among those forced to return home early after facing a number of logistical hurdles.
She said: “We had a little bit of trouble with our horse box in Holland so we had to
turn back, but it got offloaded into the other vehicles in ten minutes’ flat. “We were absolutely devastated not to be able to carry on, but we were struggling. We couldn’t hold the convoy up.”
Christine, who was grateful for being given time off work at short notice, said they had been were “absolutely inundated” with donations after putting out appeals on social media groups.
“We wanted to do something
and this was a way of physically doing something, instead of standing back and wringing our hands and saying how terrible it is,” she added.
The Ukraine Equestrian Relief gofundme fundraising page has now raised more than £41,000 and continues to supply refugees with vital provisions.
Rossendale businessman Lee Withey, managing director of Speakmans Construction Ltd, and his brother Robert Mackey,
were also due to set off for Ukraine this week taking a trailer full of donated essentials. A family friend has set up a gofundme page online, which has raised more than £2,300, to cover expenses including fuel, and trailer hire.
Anything left over will be donated to the Ukrainian Cultural Centre in Manchester.
Seeing the effect that war was having on the people of Ukraine, a schoolgirl resolved to fundraise for the
Red Cross. With the help of her friends, Lillie Cryne ran a cake and book sale at the memorial gardens in Edenfield.
The Haslingden High pupil said: “I was amazed at people’s generosity and kindness.
“In total I made £377 which my parents sent to the Red Cross. I enjoyed doing something to help and it was such a rewarding experience.”
Firefighters from Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service
are also heading towards the Ukraine border to deliver a fire engine and firefighting equipment as part of a national humanitarian effort.
Meanwhile Rossendale council has agreed not to procure or purchase any goods or services originating from Russia or Belarus.
Last week’s full council passed a motion condemning “the war of aggression, war crimes and genocide in Ukraine.”
Outlining the council’s
general response, council leader Alyson Barnes said: “As we have done previously with other refugee crises, the council and local communities do respond. The council previously participated in the Afghan resettlement programme and when the government announce a similar programme for the Ukraine refugees we will clearly look to participate in that.
“Preparations for that have already started, led by the county council.”