The invasion of Ukraine, now in its fourth year, has seen Driving Ukraine rise to the challenge, with 350 volunteers driving 38 convoys, providing over 178 vehicles for frontline efforts since the war began and raising more than £1.2 million. They are always encouraging people to join them in driving, fundraising and donating vehicles. Driving Ukraine is detailed further on their website, www.DrivingUkraine.org.
The brothers are now part of this crucial initiative as Driving Ukraine has inspired them to volunteer with this amazing organisation. Hamish and Dougal are “real people who have put their hands up to take one of the vehicles on a Driving Ukraine convoy!”.
In addition to their journey, they are fundraising to purchase and donate their vehicle.
This fundraising effort will cover the cost of transporting the vehicle from Oxfordshire, England, to Lviv, Ukraine, and further to the Eastern Ukrainian frontline. Partnering with the Driving Ukraine team, Hamish and Dougal have committed to a three-day, 1,318-mile drive across Europe, aiming to deliver an evacuation vehicle that will go directly to the Ukrainian frontline.
On reaching Lviv the 4x4 pick-up will be delivered to a dedicated workshop run by Ukrainian volunteers, where vehicles are prepared for the combat zone. Members of the Ukrainian armed forces then take the vehicle further into the country, where it will be used to evacuate those wounded during the ongoing conflict.
Every nine minutes an evacuation attempt of a wounded person in Ukraine is made. This is only possible with the help of donations and volunteers like Hamish and Dougal.
Since Russia’s full scale invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022, civilian casualties have reached over 12,000, 10 million people have been displaced, 10,000 missiles have been launched at Ukraine and more than 2,000 healthcare facilities have been damaged or destroyed
Taking part in Driving Ukraine's convoy at the end of March, Hamish will be using experience gained from running a distribution business, together with a long and sometimes challenging road trip experience driving a lap of Australia — in a flimsy two-wheel drive along hundreds of miles of 4 x 4 routes — to make this most crucial of deliveries.
Dougal has a strong desire to help Ukraine and the wider region retain its freedom and sovereignty; having a great affection for Eastern Europe gained through teaching in Poland, and visiting friends in Romania and the Czech Republic.
Further financial donations are vital in supporting this amazing charity. Driving Ukraine are grateful for anything you can spare. To donate please visit: https://donorbox.org/drivingukraine