Like many of us, I have been wondering how most effectively to provide some small measure of support to the brave people of Ukraine as a result of which I have teamed up with Steve Challen whose wife, Paula, is Rector of the parishes of the Tove Benefice. During 2022 the community of Towcester and surrounding villages have been generous in contributing to a number of substantial aid collections led by Steve and coordinated through the Tove Benefice.

This February I intend to join Oleh, a Ukrainian guest staying in Towcester with his wife Uliana and children, in taking out to Lviv and leaving there two pick up vehicles to assist with the humanitarian and military effort. I will be accompanied by my good friend and neighbour Charles Manners who will share the driving. In March I aim to take out a further pickup filled with more aid. Our target now is to raise some £20,000, to fill each vehicle with medical and humanitarian aid which has been specifically requested by our contacts on the front line. Priorities change from month to month but thanks to your generosity, as of 6th February we have bought over 1500 items at discounted rates:

- 2 Generators; 3 Portable Power Stations; 2 life saving waist fitting Junctional Tourniquets for severe lower limb injury/ loss; 90 potentially life saving military grade Tourniquets; 250 Celox quick clotting Gauze Dressings for major trauma; 200 Bullet Wound entry / exit wound seal packs; 48 Fold-up Evacuation Stretchers; 200 Field Trauma Bandages; and 400 Burn Gel Sachets; 200 Ration Pack Meals; 25 Personal Power Packs; 120 pairs Thermal Boot Socks; 300 humanitarian infant items

Oleh and I are personally funding the purchase of the first two vehicles and all transport and travel costs, so every penny raised will be used to buy here in the UK the items that have been requested by our contacts in Ukraine as well as the third pickup. When received in Lviv, the aid will be passed to Oleh's trusted volunteer aid network member, Iryna Vovk, who will distribute it where needs are greatest amongst frontline communities and brigades (currently those in Bakhmut). Typically, the aid is transferred to the frontline within two to four weeks. Oleh and I will personally hand over the vehicles to the military.

With best wishes and thanks, Paul Parsons

CAF - In the event that you would prefer to make a donation using a CAF cheque, Peterborough Cathedral as a registered charity have agreed to act as ‘banker’ where cheques need to be paid into a charity account. In those circumstances your cheque should be made payable to ‘ Peterborough Cathedral Chapter (AFU) ‘ and posted to me at Southfields House, Towcester, Northamptonshire, NN12 8EA. I will accumulate cheques received and send them to Peterborough for banking.