Helping Save Lives as the Battle Rages in Ukraine

It’s always great to be able to help out where we can and when we received a request to help refugees in Ukraine we were only too glad to be of assistance.

Mike Eastwood from York, along with two other friends, decided they couldn’t sit back and watch the horrific events unfold in Ukraine without trying to help. As a result Van Aid was formed with the sole intention of helping those who are suffering at home and overseas.

GM were approached by Mike to provide a vehicle to help fleeing refugees from war torn Ukraine. We happily provided a 17 seat minibus and arranged the insurance to facilitate Mike to undertake the trip. In a two week period Mike did two trips taking him across the channel to the Polish border with Ukraine where they collected refugees. On the first trip they brought back 13 Ukrainians, 2 cats and a dog. On the second trip they collected 12 people, four cats and luggage stacked up on the front seats. Husbands dropped the wives and children at the border pick up points while they stayed back to fight. Back in England the refugees were temporarily housed as arranged with a number of charities Mike was working with.

Mike commented:

“Many of them hadn’t been outside Ukraine before, and some had their whole life in a plastic bag. It was very sad indeed.  In previous trips we’ve taken medical aid to the border, including morphine and insulin, which was collected and taken into the hospitals.”

Mike went on:

“Its great you’ve done this as I approached a lot of big companies for a loan of a vehicle and were turned down every time.”

David Vooght, CEO said:

“We were delighted to help Mike for such a worthy cause. Our business is all about helping people and changing lives and we saw this as a great opportunity to do just that.”