On Monday 25th July a convoy for 4x4 vehicles passed through Devauden on its way to Ukraine and stopped to collect donations that local residents had taken to Devauden Shop.

Each truck was full of essential supplies including: women’s sanitary products; boxes of tinned meat/fish for ration packs; diabetic medicines; prescription pain relief; wound dressing etc. The vehicles have now been taken over the border from Poland and the all-women group of volunteers has return safely to the UK.

Sharon, one of organisers, and a member of the team of drivers, sent the following account of their journey.

“In total each car drove 1,185 miles - mostly with a sole driver in each. We had various stops for overheated cars, a slow puncture, 5 fuel fill ups and our own body weight in snacks!! Day one was a 15 hour day (8am-11pm on the road) which really tested us”
“It was also really important it was a women only trip, as we all have roles - mum, daughter, medic or teacher etc. - that we are comfortable in, but how often do you have the chance to do something extraordinary and move out of that comfort zone? We proved to ourselves we are capable of so much and we helped, in a small way. We met a woman Ukrainian volunteer driver who told us how the women are mobilising in the effort, as the men can’t leave Ukraine.”
“There was 4 UK drivers and 5 Ukrainians, mostly who came to UK as refugees with their families. We asked them why they would want to go back, but some come from areas now safe to return as the Russians have moved on or have elderly parents living in shelters who need support etc. They will be back in the next few days and I definitely felt a wave of panic as we wished them safe onward journey. The conflict and its impact felt very palpable and close suddenly. These are ordinary women who were living their lives, suddenly having to find incredible strength, resilience, resourcefulness and adaptability. There were tears, all ours!!”
“We head the news as we came through Bristol airport that the Ukrainians are pushing the Russian gains back. This was music to our tired ears.”