Run 38 – Brass Band Aid – June 2025

Once again, as Tony wasn’t available, this was another solo run by Andy.

Huge thanks as always to Medi Tech Trust in Hailsham for their generous contribution of aid – 2 very large pallets of incontinence aids that will help both the Orphanage and the “I Will Help” team in Odessa.

Together with aid from Brass Band Aid supporters and Dee Johnson in Uckfield, the van was getting very full!

With additional items to deliver on behalf of Mike Kilford Gray, a package for Iryna’s aunt and some items for Valentyna’s family in Vinnitsya, it was time to set off!

A fairly uneventful first part of the journey through to the border was followed by a record 45 minute crossing time!

Huge thanks once again to Valentyna for providing a hotel for the night in Vinnitsya – it was nice to have a real bed for the night! With the first aid drop completed, it was then on to our dear friend Taras the Priest in Zhashkiv to drop off a wheelchair and other small items of aid. Always a real pleasure to meet up with him – he also added to my onward load with some additional aid for Zaporzhzhia.

Next stop was Kropyvnytskyi to meet up with Anton – this was to be my base for 4 days. On arrival, I had a few issues with the van so an emergency visit to Dmitri, or Mr Painter as we know him as, to get those resolved. Huge thanks to him for fitting me in at short notice and for resolving the issues at no cost.
But you know you’re in good hands when you see this flag in the Workshop!

The following day, Elyza took us out to the Orphanage:

The next 2 days were spent on day trips down to Zaporizhzhia and Odesa:

Asa you will see in the video, within 30 mins of arriving, we were able to give an item of webbing to a soldier on his way to the front! Thanks to Taras for the gloves and emergency blankets which went to Himars and to Mike Kilford Gray for his boxes which I delivered to Jimmy along with some tools, a strimmer for Alina (thanks Dee!) and some sleeping bags (thanks Age UK).

Here’s a video showing delivery of aid from our last visit to Jimmy:

I was deeply honoured to receive a medal for services to the armed forces of Ukraine.

The following day was another day trip, this time to visit our friends at “I Will Help”. First, a video of aid from our last visit being collected:

With my work done, it was time to head back home.
No border bingo video this time as went straight in – which is when the problem started! Lost front headlight bulb as I went in and of course, needed it to enter Poland. With minimal light and unable to undo the 2 screws needed to change the bulb, I eventually just blagged my way through on full beam and retired to the first service area on the motorway in Poland.