Surrey charity marks its 100th trip with humanitarian aid to Ukraine
It's been nearly two years since Russia's invasion of Ukraine
Last updated 22nd Feb 2024
Two days away from the second year anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, a charity is marking its 100th trip with humanitarian aid to the country.
Epsom charity, Surrey Stands With Ukraine, was set up on the same day Russian troops invaded the country, on 24 February 2022.
Nearly two years on, it continues to fundraise and collect donations. Today, volunteers loaded mobility aid - including crutches and wheelchairs - into a van which will be heading to the Ukraine-Poland border.
Nick Budd who's been a volunteer since May 2022, said today isn't a celebration but they're marking the important milestone:
"We don't feel that we could celebrate something that is a result of pain and suffering.
"But we have to acknowledge and mark what is only possible through our volunteers who come from a multitude of nationalities based here in the UK and the Ukrainian community that come and help us.
"These mobility aids are incredibly important because there has been somewhere around 100,000 amputees in Ukraine and we have sent in the region of 3,000 various types of mobility aid."
Today's 100th van with aid will be reaching Ukraine's border with Poland in the next few days.
But the team in Epsom won't be driving all the way there, rather they'll be assisted by one of their many partner organisations to complete the trip.
Nick Budd told us volunteers would instead be driving back to load up their 101st van today, with more humanitarian aid and donated items, including food, clothing and medical aid.
Mr Budd who's been to Ukraine in other trips, said he himself has seen the impact of aid in the southern region of the country.
"I visited communities that had 300 people before the invasion and now have six people left. These sort of rural towns and villages were largely destroyed. There are still vast swathes of Ukraine that still need support.
"We won't stop. We'll carry on as long as it takes. And today's a great example of that, with two outgoing vans and one incoming van, and just surrounded by people who are just good people, and they do good on a daily basis."