Scarborough’s Derek tells of his van missions to help Ukraine
I just want to go again, says ‘knight in red armour’
Scarborough’s “knight in red armour”, Derek Bratton, has told how he travelled more than 10,000 miles to deliver emergency aid to Ukraine. Derek left Scarborough on April 2 and travelled to London where he met up with a lady called Inga Branka who had been collecting items for a Polish orphanage.
He travelled to Southampton where he met up with former Scarborough resident Kyle Mead and loaded the rest of his van ready to continue his journey via Eurotunnel.
The duo met up with a further seven drivers working with the charity Van Aid which has been set up to transport emergency aid to Ukraine.
Derek, whose nickname derives from his distinctive red van – and his selfless community and charity work – said: “It has been an emotional adventure. I have memories that will stay there forever.
“The first trip was easy, when we got into Poland everyone had their own address to go to. The place I delivered to was an orphanage. They planned to take the items I delivered to other families in a similar situation to the one they were in.
“I took with me medicines and sanitary products, wheelchairs and sleeping bags. I even had a bike which I gave to a little girl who was about six. Her face was a picture.
“Then they gave me a gift decorated with a red love heart and blue and yellow centre and an Oscar-style statuette, and took me out for dinner.
“They even paid for a place for me to stay.
“It wasn’t until later, that I opened the box and realised the inside was decorated with fairy lights and that it was all lit up.
“The second trip was to the Ukraine border. Where we met was like a massive car park. There were a lot of police cars with flashing lights and people in a white van came to meet us.
“They had had a long journey, having driven eight hours across Ukraine to meet up with me.”
While the car park is some distance from the current fighting, the sounds and sights of war are ever present.
Derek said: “At 10pm you turn your lights off so you don’t get blown off the road. You can hear the fighting at night and see what looks like fireworks going off in the air.”
Derek, who has paid for the majority of food and accommodation during his trip, has fundraised to cover fuel costs, Channel crossings and tolls.
Fuel for the trip can cost between £1,200 and £1,500 depending where it is purchased.
The average tank of fuel costs £120 to fill up in the UK, but in Germany this may be as much as £150, while in Poland it can be as low as £80.
Derek said the support he has received locally has been incredible: donations from a number of local businesses and a crowdfunding campaign which has raised an additional £1,500 which helped to pay for the first trip.
During his second trip the van broke down and Derek found himself stranded in Poland, unable to speak the language.
Fortunately Inga Braka had given him her number and a three-way conversation at a service station ensued as Inga explained what had happened to the lady behind the counter.
When she found out that Derek had been delivering aid to Ukraine, she motioned for him to take a seat, bought him a cup of tea and made him a sandwich while he waited for rescue.
Derek is now saving for a third trip. He said: “I just want to be off again. If I could afford to stay for a few months, I would.”
You can sponsor Derek on his JustGiving page at www. justgiving.com/crowdfunding/ron-wilkey-2.