THE CONVOY OF HOPE FOR UKRAINE
The Convoy of Hope for Ukraine
Sally Strahan on how locals are helping send ambulances and supplies to those in need
THE CONVOY OF HOPE – 5th-9th March 2023
With the fantastic generosity, donations and support of residents of south west London, the Convoy of Hope recently set off to deliver six fully equipped, refurbished ambulances to Ukraine.
It began with the Concert of Hope on Sunday, 19th February in St Margaret’s Church, Putney, featuring six talented Ukrainian musicians. Donations in kind followed, including medication, baby food, bandages, syringes, clothes, sleeping bags, rucksacks, sanitary wear, dog food, crutches, wheelchairs, walking frames, retractable chairs and more.
The team of 12 drivers left at 5.30am on Sunday, 5th March after a ceremonial send-off in Luttrell Avenue the previous evening. They drove 1485 miles, via Eurotunnel, through France, Belgium, the Netherlands to Germany and Poland, to arrive in Lviv in Ukraine on Tuesday morning. Two of the four ambulances were handed over there while the remaining four were driven 410 miles on to Kyiv where they were delivered to the Ministry of Health.
This Convoy’s mission has been successfully completed, but The Coronation Convoy will be setting off on 9th May with a further convoy planned for June. Aliya Aralbayeva, co-founder of Medical Life Lines Ukraine, and local residents will continue fundraising to purchase more ambulances and other vehicles specifically needed so badly in Ukraine. If you’re interested in helping in any way, please email sallystrahan@outlook.com or to make a donation for this fantastic initiative for Ukraine, please go to https://www.gofundme.com/f/convoys2023
