HUMANITARIAN group Boxers Barbers 4 Ukraine have journeyed to warzones in the country 14 times to deliver vital aid since the war began a year ago.
Steve Parker, who owns Boxers Barbers in Wickford, has been travelling out with the team for the last year since the war began.
“I can’t believe it has been a year since the war began and it is still going on. The morale in Ukraine in stronger than ever but they are facing hardship with limited gas and electricity,” said Steve.
“Since our first trip out there we have witnessed the bombed out buildings and destruction, and now we are seeing signs of them starting to rebuild their communities.”
He first decided to set up the group when he witnessed the conflict taking shape.
“I am an ex-military infantry soldier and when I saw what was happening I contacted my friends who are military veterans, including my friend and army veteran Dan Gausden, who has been with me from the beginning. We decided to do something to help. We have been to warzones before so we knew to a certain extent what to expect,” explained Steve.
“Initially it was going to be eight veterans taking two or three vans to Ukraine but it grew so quickly we had 16 vehicles and 32 drivers!”
The first trip out took place on March 7, with a mix of military veterans and civilians taking out supplies.
“When we came back the donations had filled back up again,” laughed Steve, who has run Boxers Barbers for 20 years, including ten years in Wickford.
“People have been so generous and the donations kept coming in. We have continued to return to Ukraine and as the year has progressed our donations have become more targeted.”
The team’s most recent trip they went to Borodyanka near to Kyiv and delivered vital goods, including generators, to the Chernobyl Children’s Psychological Centre.
In a previous trip they delivered £30,000 worth of laptops for youngsters to help educate them during wartime.
Boxers Barbers 4 Ukraine are currently running a shoebox appeal for frontline soldiers with donations needed such as socks, toothbrushes, sweets, cuppa soups and paracetamol.
Full details on how to donate can be found at www.4ukraine.org.uk or search “Boxers Barbers 4 Ukraine” on Facebook
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here