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Ian Forster raised £15,225 from 168 supporters
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Closed 06/09/2023
Weʼve raised £15,225 to Support Ukrainians in Newcastle & the delivery of medical aid to Ukraine in 2023!
- Funded on Wednesday, 6th September 2023
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November 2022 Update.....
We go again!
Following my trip to Poland & Ukraine in March 2022, I have decided that due to the ever worsening situation in Ukraine to keep on offering my support in 2 ways:
Newcastle Friends of Ukraine Xmas bash!
I want to give the displaced families currently living in the North East a a traditional British Christmas bash to remember. Food, music, a real life Santa, Face painters, magicians, snow machines - you name it, I'm trying to provide it!
The room can hold up to 120, so I am looking to provide food, drinks and presents for all the children who attend.
The event is taking place on Saturday 17th December (4-6pm) in the Ballroom at The Towers in Jesmond, which has been kindly donated FOC by the owner
I am currently in the midst of organising the event, so I'm looking for support on all fronts. Donations along with recommendations and offers of help in securing music, lighting, magicians and the big man himself - Santa Claus!
More on this as the event starts coming together!!
Medical Aid Ukraine - North East
I have now also volunteered to drive much needed Medical Aid to Ukraine on behalf of Medical Aid Ukraine - North East in early 2023 accompanied by my wife Andrea.
Medical Aid Ukraine - North East are a grass roots not-for-profit organisation who are working to procure the most urgently needed medical equipment for Ukraine's field hospitals. They are working alongside other national organisations with similar goals and values.
They have been liaising with Ukrainian front-line medics and the Ukrainian Ministry of Health to produce a list of the most urgently requested medical items.
Medic friends - If you have donations from an NHS Trust, GP, dentist, pharmacy, private clinic or medical supplier please Contact me to organise collection / delivery.
Other items needed as follows:
MOST URGENT
TRAUMA PACKS
IFAK II Complete Kit
The composition of the individual first aid kit IFAK
CAT tourniquet (or similar)
Haemostatic dressing (QuikClot Combat Gauze Z-Folded, Celox Gauze)
Israeli bandage size 4" or 6"
Nasopharyngeal tube and lubrication.
Chest wound seal (HALO occlusive dressing or similar)
Decompression needle
Anti-burn hydrogel bandage/dressing
Tough cuts / trauma shears
Sterile gauze
Permanent black marker
Thermo/foil blanket
URGENTLY REQUESTED SURGICAL EQUIPMENT
Surgical clothing / shoes
Surgical instruments and consumables for laparoscopic and open surgery
Surgical sutures - linear and circular
Electrocoagulation blocks (Hormonic)
Gastroscopes, colonoscopes, video endoscopes
C-arch
Operating tables and surgical lamps.
OTHER REQUESTED ITEMS
Airway
Anesthesia machine
Vacuum aspirator / portable suction
Laryngoscope with blades of different sizes
Tracheostomy set
Tracheal intubation kit
LMA/ NPA
Breathing
Capnograph / CO2 monitor
Chest drains / Set for drainage of the pleural cavity
Oxygen masks
Ventilator
Bag valve masks
Circulation
Patient monitor
Electrocardiograph
Defibrillator / pads
Syringe pump / sets
Infusion volumetric pump / sets
Central vein canulation kits
Set for intraosseous access
IV cannulas
Tourniquets
Quick Clot dressings / packing
Disability / Environment / Others
Glucometer / test strips
Otoscope / ophthalmoscope
Portable light source for patient examination
Mobile X-ray machine
Ultrasound diagnostic device
Set of sterile surgical instruments
Abdominal cavity wash out kit
Urinary catheters / kits
Traction tire
Kits for lumbar puncture
Immobilization tires of various types and sizes
Syringes with needles (different volumes)
Non - sterile bandage
Elastic fixing bandage
Sterile burn dressings
Sterile wound dressings
External fixation device
Tough Cuts
Insulated foil blankets
Tape
Skin markers
If you can donate any of the above including any unopened, in date, over the counter drugs such as Ibuprofen etc. they can also be accepted. We cannot accept any prescription drugs or any out of date medicines.
The plan is to fill my vehicle and drive over to Ukraine to deliver the items and also help out whilst we are there.
Thanks to everyone who has helped previously, but more is needed!
March 2022 Efforts....................
Like many people, I have been sickened by images following Russia's act of aggression towards to the people of Ukraine. I have been talking to John Lawler from the 'Make a Difference' (MAD) Foundation working out in Ukraine about what practical help I could offer. I've agreed to drive from Newcastle to the Polish border in order to help them with their Operation SafeDrop efforts.
When Ukrainian refugees arrive across the border, they have already survived a long and dangerous journey. That journey may have involved sleeping underground, scarce food for days, and walking many miles with tired or sick children. When refugees arrive in Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Moldova, the local people have provided incredible transitory support, including setting up refugee camps and providing food and other resources. Many of the refugees have a friend, relative, or volunteer host located in Poland or elsewhere in Europe that they are trying to reach. Many have few belongings and no available source of funds when they arrive at the border. People have been lingering in the refugee camp trying to figure out how to get to a more permanent solution. While the refugee camps are a great gift from Poland and the other countries, people need to reach a more permanent place to safely stay throughout the duration of the Crisis.
MAD is working to provide support and transportation to get women and children safely from the border (or border refugee camps) directly to their desired destination. Not only does this relieve the families themselves but also relieves the pressure on the border refugee camps. They aim to provide a safe, efficient, and free "last mile" transportation for those who were forced to make this journey to keep their children safe.
They are struggling with funds for fuel etc., so I've agreed that I will raise enough funds to get myself out there, drop off the urgent supplies that are needed and then spend time driving families to their chosen place of safety, without draining their resources. Their Chief Executive (John Lawler) has also told me that the people fleeing are in desperate need of feminine hygiene products, toothbrushes, toothpaste, new socks and underwear, so I want to try and fill my car up on the outward journey. It’s a big Land Rover Defender, so it can take a substantial amount of items, so dig deep and get donating as I want it full to the brim before I set off. The more you can give either via the page (or by dropping any of the above items listed above to my home address), the better!
If there are any corporate sponsors willing to donate, please spread the word & share!
We are now departing this coming Sunday (27th March) for Poland. I am delighted to also announce, I am being being joined by Tim Cieslik from Lincoln (he's fellow Land Rover Defender Facebook Group Member), so w ow have 2 full cars of supplies going over to Poland in order to drop supplies, then help with the transportation of refugees. Thanks for your help.
Updates
81
- 1 year ago
Ian Forster
1 year agoA copy of the BBC Look North Report of the Big Christmas Bash!
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- 1 year ago
Ian Forster
1 year ago🎄🎅 Ukrainian Christmas Bash Update…… Due to a flood of late donations, we had over 30 Selection boxes, 25 Gifts, crisps, juice, water and other items left after Saturday’s event. I dropped these into the Byker Pantry today. Great to be able to share the joy thanks to your superb generosity! Thanks again.🎅🎄🇺🇦
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- 1 year ago
Ian Forster
1 year agoShare this update to help us raise more
Ian Forster started crowdfunding
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Supporters
168
The Middleton Foundation
Dec 20, 2022
All the best from Charity Escapes and The Middleton Foundation.
£1,000.00
Guy
Dec 19, 2022
Just brilliant Ian, you've made their Xmas's :-)
£50.00
Sarah Thackray
Dec 16, 2022
Amazing work!
£20.00
Michael Clarke
Dec 14, 2022
£40.00
Alice & Andrew Hall
Dec 14, 2022
£30.00
SHABS MOHAMMED
Dec 13, 2022
Ian your doing a fantastic job. I hope to visit Ukraine myself in the future. Keep up the good work I hope many people benefit and perhaps we meet the refugees at some point. God Bless
£25.00
Alistair Scott
Dec 13, 2022
Great stuff Ian. Happy Xmas.
£100.00
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