Final appeal: sponsors needed for Kilkenny to Ukraine aid mission

A Kilkenny man is making a final appeal to financial sponsors to back his aid mission to Ukraine.

Jim Harding is heading up a convoy of  vehicles and medical supplies that will be departing Ireland early next week for Ukraine.

Jim, from Gowran, travelled to Ukraine earlier this year as part of an Irish aid convoy from Tipperary, 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,” he 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.”

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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.

Next week Joe, and his team, will be taking two vans and four jeeps as well as €40,000 in medical aid on their mission. He is also hoping to add two fire engines, two ambulances and a box truck to that convoy. 

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Some items will be shipped, while some of the vehicles will be driven to Ukraine by the team. Jim is appealing to companies and individuals to sponsor the shipping costs. 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.