Appeal for old vehicles to be sent from Kilkenny to help in Ukraine

The bravery of the men and women defending Ukraine has so impressed a Kilkenny businessman that he has launched an appeal to bring aid to the country.

Jim Harding, from Gowran, travelled to Ukraine earlier this year as part of an Irish aid convoy from Tipeprary, and now has launched his own appeal.
“I couldn’t come back here, having seen what they are going through, the battles they are fighting, the friends they are losing, and do absolutely nothing,” Jim explained to the Kilkenny People.

“Ireland as a country may be neutral but the Irish people cannot stand back and see this nation which shares a background eerily similar to our own in terms of famine colonisation and character, defend their country against the worlds second largest military machine without doing everything in our power to help.”

Jim’s appeal is focusing on the vehicles that are needed in Ukraine, especially on the front line and to distribute food and aid.
Speaking to Ukrainians, when he was there in January, Jim said they appear to be pushing back the Russians, but they are doing so at an extremely high cost. “They badly want four-wheel vans and ambulances,” he said.

The need for ambulances is self explanatory, Jim said, and is central to his aim of saving lives.
Four-wheel drive vehicles are needed to bring people to and from frontline areas. They will bring injured people away from the front and to ambulances and treatment centres. Ambulances are kept back from the frontlines because they can’t afford to lose them.
Vans and trucks are also needed to transport food and humanitarian supplies from central depots.
The vehicles needed the most are pickups, for ease of loading and unloading casualties and cargo.

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“Older but reliable 4wd jeeps are best for them at the moment as they are easier to repair in the field and they are destined for a relatively short life on the front,” Jim said.
“Those jeeps and vans are sitting all over the country, not being used, they are going for scrap,” he highlighted the vehicles his appeal will accept.
For example, one vehicle Jim brought over in January had been sitting in an Irish field for four years. “Anything with four wheel drive, it doesn’t matter what it is.”

As well as the four wheel drives also needed are generators to supply injury stabilisation centres with power, and fire engines which will be sent to areas where they are most needed.

Jim is hoping to team up with another Irish aid appeal to carry medical supplies and first aid kits in the vehicle convoy.
He will need help with fundraising, administration and, eventually, drivers to go to Ukraine.
Before they leave Ireland there will be a need for mechanics to check over the vehicles to make sure they are roadworthy to drive to Ukraine.
Jim is also appealing to local businesses who might come together to sponsor a vehicle or provide financial support. Scan the QR code below with your phone camera to go to the iDonate page.

“On a recent similar trip organised by a Tipperary group we drove 17 jeeps and ambulances, generators, medical supplies and warm clothing into Ukraine and delivered them directly to the Ukrainian military, which gave us ample time to chat to many young Ukrainian soldiers about their time and effort in the war. Many explained that they were holding out against the giant Russian Army only with supreme effort on behalf of young men determined to preserve their independence.

“One of their difficulties, with which we could help, was getting wounded soldiers back off the front lines to where ambulance crews could reach and rush them to stabilisation centres in preparation for onward journey to hospitals, as getting wounded soldiers medical treatment as quickly was vital for their chance of survival.”

The campaign is just starting and Jim is working on the official documentation and registration with local charities in Ukraine for the vehicles and goods he will bring over.
He hopes to travel back, with his convoy of vehicles, in April.

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Jim has set up a website, KilkennyUkraine.com, to set out all the details of what is needed by his appeal, and an iDonate page for financial support.
He can also be contacted on 0833340270 or email ireland2ukraine@gmail.com.