Four decommissioned ambulances packed with supplies are to be driven from Bolton to the border of Ukraine thanks to a convoy organised by the Mayors of Bolton, Blackrod and Westhoughton.
The convoy, managed by the Lancashire based charity International Aid Trust, and supported by the mayors, set off from Bolton Town Hall on Sunday with food, clothing and first aid equipment, which will go directly to Ukraine.
The team was waved off by the Mayor of Salford Councillor Tanya Burch, who was herself born in Ukraine, and members of the Bolton branch of the Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain.
The four fully functioning ambulances and support vehicles will be driven by the mayors with a team of military veterans including friends from the Royal British Legion, along with Igor Reshetov, International Aid Trust Logistics and Distribution Manager, and Trustee Jon Field.
The vehicles will be handed over to the charity’s Ukraine team in Krakow, to then be taken on to Ukraine, where they will be put to very good use saving the lives of those injured in the war.
Mayor of Bolton, Cllr Andy Morgan, said:
“It was fantastic for all of the mayors to come together for what will be an incredible trip – tough at times, but successful, uplifting and incredibly rewarding.
“We wanted to do something to support the children and young people whose lives have been turned upside down by the ongoing war in Ukraine.
“These old NHS ambulances will also help bring vital lifesaving care to Ukrainians remaining in towns and cities under attack from Russian bombardments.”
CEO and Founder of International Aid Trust Rev. Bernard Cocker said:
“I’ve seen time and time again the wonderful life saving work that these vehicles are helping our teams to do.
“One very senior officer at our meeting last month said, “these are saving thousands of lives, not just a few but thousands”.
