Sorry, this is a bit long, but please read it. 

 

We’ve set up EdenAid.org (which we are busy making into a formal charity) and have now done 33 trips (I’ve done 15) to the Ukrainian border with 137 different drivers who’ve driven 129 minibuses, travelled 308,000 miles (that's 12 times around the world!), delivered 385 pallets of aid worth over £465,000 and helped 1,066 displaced Ukrainian refugees to start new lives - 954 of them we have brought back to the UK  (along with their 98 dogs, 78 cats ... 2 Hamster, 2 Rats and 2 Guinea Pigs and an Agama …), as well as helping 112 others to move to new homes elsewhere in Europe.

 

We are entirely reliant on donations to keep this going ... and that's tough as this is quickly becoming "Old News" ... 
BUT - It's NOT "old News" ... it's still very real and we are seeing a huge ongoing demand for what we are doing - so please help us if you can.

The people we are focused on are the vulnerable. In particular - the ones that can’t fly. Be they old, sick or disabled, very late in pregnancy, have pets, mums with several small kids or just have a fear of flying.
 
It’s been very humbling and hugely emotional helping these vulnerable human beings. They are just like you and I, except for ... what they’ve gone through. No men, just women and children, ripped from their homes, leaving behind their sons, dads, husbands. Carrying often not more than a borrowed suitcase - all that is left from their past life. They tell us their stories -- Sasha from Bucha whose car has been shot at as they escaped, her mum having 9 bullet wounds. Lera with a two-month-old baby Sophia whose house was bombed to the ground. Olena, with 5 children between 3 and 14, who have never been out of their little village in Ukraine, and now are in a hostel in Warsaw. Lidia from Mariupol, who was deported to Russia, travelled with volunteers out and has nothing to return to and nothing left... you get the picture.

 

There is a continuous stream of refugees coming – for many reasons but in particular:

• We are finally seeing people coming out of the East, Kharkiv, Mariupol etc .. , making it to the West and securing Visa’s for the UK;

• The pet licensing system has been a fiasco, but it is finally starting to resolve itself and licenses are now being received – the only way to get into the UK with a pet is in a vehicle … you can’t fly, take the train or go on a ferry as a walk-on passenger; and

• Many that originally stayed behind are now realising the war is far from over and so are now deciding to leave – with Kyiv coming under attack again after many weeks this will undoubtedly trigger a new surge;

 

We are entirely reliant on people and organisations lending us or sponsoring 9-Seater minibuses (that’s the biggest vehicle we are allowed to drive in Europe) and on donations from supporters to help fund the running costs of the trips.
 

PS – if you have a 9-seater “minibus or MPV” that you can lend us for a week or two then please please please get in touch – just email me [email redacted].

 

PPS – just FYI - It costs us £2,000 per week to rent and run one of our minibuses (rent is around £750 and the running costs are £1,250 for each vehicle).

 

PPPS - we've partnered with the International Refugee Trust (IRT) so that we can secure Gift Aid from all the money we raise from UK tax payers. All the money raised here and in general for Ukraine comes directly to us.