Just what the doctor ordered: Borders farmer drives Pick-ups for Peace in Ukraine

'...they are making a real difference and saving lives almost immediately'

Author: Ally McGilvrayPublished 2nd Apr 2023
Last updated 2nd Apr 2023

With normal life on hold following the invasion by Russia, a farmer from the Borders, who runs a potato-growing business in Ukraine, is driving a campaign to send trucks full of vital aid to troops on the frontline.

Doctor Keith Dawson has already helped deliver a convoy of 22 vehicles to the war-torn country, as part of the Pick-ups for Peace initiative.

And now the 64-year-old, who co-founded the Lviv-based Central Plains Group, is appealing to the local farming community for help to send more.

"The situation is dreadful," Dr Dawson told us. "20 per cent of arable land in Ukraine is now unavailable for farming due to land mines or munitions, or having been captured by the Russians. That's a massive amount that will affect food inflation throughout the world.

"Central Plains Group provided three vehicles in June to help at the eastern front, rescuing villagers and helping the wounded. We had two of them written off with artillery shelling from the Russians, and we decided that we'd try to help get more.

"Once the vehicles have arrived in Lviv, they are spray-painted with camouflage paint to avoid detection on their rescue and supply missions, and are shipped to the eastern front within a few days. So they are making a real difference and saving lives almost immediately."

The group have also set-up a crowd-funding page to help pay for vital supplies, like generators and first aid. And it has raised more than £80,000 of its £100,000 target.

Dr Dawson said: “Every item we took was valued and had been requested. A big thing is tyres because the roads they are using are covered in shrapnel, so they chew through tyres very quickly.

“We are also moving towards getting vehicles customised to be used as ambulances, kitted out with old NHS equipment and medical essentials.”

When asked why he got involved, Dr Dawson, who revealed another convoy will be sent out this month, added: "The Ukrainians are fighting for their freedom and survival, and very much our western values. I have children and three granddaughters who live in the Borders, and I want them to grow up in a world where dictators and tyrants don't have control of their lives."

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