Reubens Aid trip to the Moldova - Ukraine border

You will all have seen the horrific images filling our screens and media from the Ukraine area.

 

As a result, many agencies and other bodies are making huge efforts to get aid and support to where it is needed. Much of the focus has been/is on the Polish/Ukraine border; they are seeing the largest influx of refugees. However, some of the other border countries are receiving less immediate support.

 

My long time friend Reuben is heading to Moldova on March 24th alongside the convoy teams from teech.org. (https://teechorg.weebly.com) An aid organisation transporting several lorry loads of much-needed aid to the Moldova/Ukraine border. According to BBC figures (7/3/22), Moldova has already seen an influx of refugees, close to 10% of the whole country's population!

 

Reuben, along with Jack Lambert and Marc Chenery, will accompany the convoy in 4x4 vehicle/s (potentially with trailers) loaded with aid items. One of the issues that some agencies are experiencing is the management and distribution to smaller communities away from larger access roads and larger towns - this is where their focus will be. Using a smaller vehicle than articulated lorries will allow them to work on the ground, helping to move items to these more remote aid points.

 

I have worked with Reuben in 'the field' on many occasions while volunteering for our local 4x4 Response team in severe weather events. With proven driving, recovery and self-sufficiency skills, I know he has the capability and capacity to be helpful without being a burden should small issues arise on the road. They have also worked together in some high-risk situations - working on oil spills, environmental remediation works, etc. So they have a good portfolio of skills to apply on the ground. I would be jumping at the chance to get there myself, but circumstance currently dictates that my role will be here in the UK to help support them whilst on the road - raising finances and awareness to help them make a difference.

 

The purpose of this GoFundMe page is to raise the necessary funds to cover the cost of the journey to and from Moldova - fuel and sustenance. Any excess funding (over and above anything that is spent on the trip) will be donated directly to teech.org towards funding specific aid requirements upon arrival - this will ensure that we can tailor the provision more accurately to the needs of the recipients.

This means that as we are buying more locally, we can expect to get more for the money and also help to benefit local economies rather than buying in the UK and having the costs of transportation and extra fuel costs.

 

I appreciate that you may have already donated elsewhere, either financially or in physical terms of food etc, but I know that they can be of use on the ground - face to face and am hoping that you will be able to help.