A DAD of two has decided to travel on his own to the Polish-Ukrainian border to deliver aid to all those affected by the current conflict.
Peter Bardell, 39, has been driving around Taunton to collect residents’ donations and is getting ready to drive to the border in his van tomorrow, Thursday, March 3.
Mr Bardell, from Fivehead, said it should take 24 hours to reach the border but his main concern is to get past Calais, in France.
He said: “It takes 24 hours but at the moment I am not sure of the route and the idea is to help out where and when I can.
“My main concern is to get to the French border. I am hoping there will be a degree of compassion applied to what I am doing and I hope that when I get to Calais I will be allowed to drive on.
“My aim is being able to get these goods where they need to go.”
Peter Bardell with some of the donations he collected ahead of his journey
Mr Bardell’s wife spent some time in Poland and Ukraine as part of her job in the pharmaceutical industries and Mr Bardell said she has contact in the area and “she knows people who are able to provide help when I get to my destination”.
He also added: “At the moment the plan is just to get across Dover and start driving.
“I will be talking to some charities over here and my wife has got some contacts in Poland and Ukraine so once I am there, we will find out the best route.
“I decided to do this on Monday morning. I said to my wife I wanted to go to Poland and Ukraine and help out.
“I have a large van and I am trying to get started and organised with a view of getting on the road tomorrow.”
Mr Bardell has also been in contact with the Help for Ukraine Taunton Facebook group which is collecting donations from residents in the area.
He said the most needed items now are sleeping bags, torches, first aid kits and other medical equipment, and kids essentials.
Mr Bardell added: “The response from the community has been overwhelming. I will also buy stuff when I get there so now, I am trying to prioritise the donations.”
He said the response from the community was “incredible” and he received more donations than he expected.
Mr Bardell added: “I have two young kids and the thought of them fleeing home because someone is threatening to bomb it’s horrible, so I want to help as much as possible.”
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