The news from Ukraine remains dreadful, with relentless attacks on population centres and energy infrastructure, especially the electricity grid. Civilian deaths and injuries are increasing as the country freezes. It is something which none of us will have experienced, and it is happening almost on our doorstep; London to Kyiv is a mere 1495 miles by road. Rome is 1104 miles, Athens is 1949 and Tromso is 2152 miles. My contact in Kyiv, Dr Viktor Oshovskyy, continues to source and rapidly provide urgently-needed medical equipment. He works in close collaboration with front-line medics and with the Ukrainian government. We visited his base in August when we delivered 2 Nissan Pathfinders for ambulance conversion and nearly £5K worth of medical kit, aid which many of you very generously paid for. Within days the vehicles were in use. Viktor’s team are single-minded, and extremely impressive and efficient. Unfortunately the need has not gone away. To those of you who have already donated, I am sorry to ask you for further support. The most pressing requirement is for acute trauma medical kit and especially plastic drag stretchers. These are shown in the photo. They allow evacuation by a single person, or up to 6 people, horizontally or vertically and with secure fixation of the patient, vital for eg spinal and pelvic injuries. They have handles, towing loops and carabiners, are light, durable, easily cleaned and carried. They not only help save the life of the injured person, but also the medics since evacuation is much quicker. They are made in Ukraine by ARES, and cost £92 each. As before, there is a continuing need for 4x4s for ambulance conversion. We are hoping to raise £9000. This would allow us to buy a suitable vehicle, make it roadworthy taxed and insured, and buy around £5000-worth of medical kit, mainly the stretchers. As before, the vehicle will be delivered where it is required in Ukraine, and we will meet our own transport and accommodation costs. All of the money you donate goes directly to buying the vehicle or the medical aid. Many thanks for reading this.

Jerry Marsden