This is a picture of Tanya sitting on one of my motorbikes back in the summer of 2022 in (slightly) happier times. Tanya and her daughter, Alina, are from Kyiv and came to the UK under the UK government’s Homes for Ukraine scheme after Russia invaded Ukraine back in February and stayed with us in High Salvington for 6 months. My wife and I were their sponsors.

They went back to their family at the end of October, thinking that the situation had improved, only to have a significant part of their infrastructure subsequently destroyed by Russian missiles and drones. We have kept in contact with Tanya and on a WhatsApp exchange on 26th November she told me that they have power in their flat for 2 – 3 hours a day, typically between 4.30 and 7.30am.

I honestly don’t think I need to say any more about the dire situation in Ukraine – we see it on the News every day.

I asked Tanya about the availability of generators and she told me there is a waiting list of minimally a month …if you can afford one. They are currently trying to rig up a car battery in their small flat to get lighting. My guess is that, being in a city, they are better off than many.

Whilst I appreciate that the UK, other European governments and the US are providing significant amounts of humanitarian aid I decided to try and help out in a small way by taking some smaller petrol generators to help those that are completely cut off.

I have already ordered 6 generators from Hampshire Generators ranging from 2.8kW to 6.5kW – 2 each of those pictured below:

These will be delivered to me next week and hopefully will provide a useful amount of power for wherever it is needed most. I have an old Ford Transit van in which I plan to drive to the Polish/Ukrainian border with the generators plus other assorted bits and pieces that should be useful – rechargeable torches etc – and to then transfer these to Tanya and her husband who will take them on to Kyiv.

In my 71 years on this planet I have never ever asked for charity – this is the first time. I have so far funded the cost of the generators that I have already purchased and I will fund the trip to the Ukrainian border out of my own pocket. My old LWB Transit can carry 2 tons and I would dearly like to fill it with as many generators as I can carry.

Just in case you think that this is a scam and a load of BS – it’s not, my time is usually spent restoring vintage motorcycles – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50jmWqlhoxk

And so, what am I asking for? Two things: Donations to buy as many generators as I can carry before leaving or, if you have a working generator that you no longer need, then that would also be much appreciated. I can be contacted via a link at the bottom of the page.

Thank You.

UPDATE ON 28/11/2022

A big "Thank You" to everyone that has contributed so far - I have been overwhelmed by your generosity. So much so, in fact, that I am optimistic that we might get somewhere near the target. As there is a lead time between ordering generators and them actually being delivered I have ordered another 6 generators.

With a rated power of 2.2kW these are relatively small generators – but they are also a good price and have had some good reviews. This amount of power would be just fine for a house “out in the boonies” to provide a small amount of heating, cooking using a microwave, lights and battery charging.

12 new generators of various sizes have now been ordered.

I will be leaving the UK on 13th December - the car ferry is already booked. I had to move the original departure date as the first batch of generators will now be delivered to me around the 8th December.