Brass Band Aid for Ukraine came into being when Andy Wooler, a brass musician for over 50 years, became involved with a fellow bander, Mike Hockham as part of his Ukraine Fundraiser 2022 team. Once Andy purchased his own van, the teams, whilst co-operating closely, began to work more independently in terms of where aid was coming from, how often runs can be made and more importantly, how each team was funded. Please email bba@andywooler.com to join the growing list of our supporters!
- Run 41 – Brass Band Aid – October 2025
Prior to any run, there is a lot of work to do! First up for this run, we had to get the van through an MOT, which included resolving the dpf issue that started on the last run!Huge thanks to Tony and his son Chris for all the work done on the van in preparation… - Run 39 – Brass Band Aid – August 2025
Before heading out on our latest run, there was the small matter of raising funds for the fuel and ferry etc! Dee Johnson, one of our big supporters, ran a coffee morning for us at the Belmont Centre in Uckfield – an amazing sum of over £800 was raised which, together with our own sale… - 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… - Run 36 – Brass Band Aid, May 2025
On the 19th May, Andy set out on a solo run – Tony was not able to join him on this occasion. The first delivery was to drop off another Electric Wheelchair on behalf of East Sussex for Ukraine – this took place in Vinnitsya where Andy met up with Valentyna’s Son and Daughter. Huge… - Preparing for Run 36 – Brass Band Aid, May 2025
As Andy is preparing for the next run, here are some updates on the last run which we received after we got back. First up, some videos from our friends at “I Will Help” showing some of our aid being sent out: We also received video from Nataly in Zaporizhzhia: These final videos are for… - Run 35 – Brass Band Aid – March 2025
I am often asked why we continue to go regularly in vans less than 3.5t – the answer to that will be seen very clearly as the story of this run unfolds. It’s all about our agility to deliver directly to the point of need in a timely manner. For this run, we were transporting… - Run 33 – February 2025
Run 33 was another run by the Brass Band Aid for Ukraine team with Andy & Tony. Andy went straight from a band rehearsal to pick up Tony and head to Dover for the 0200 ferry to Dunkirk. Prior to the run, we had a meet with the wonderful folks at Medi Tech Trust in… - Run 32 – December 2024
Preparation for run 32 is well underway! The bulk of the aid this time is heading to a hospital in the Odessa region. The hospital there contacted our friends at Medi Tech Trust who in turn, contacted Help Ukraine 🇺🇦 BAMK UK in Milton Keynes. That led them to our good friend “Wozza” in Folkestone and… - Run 30 – October 2024
Run 30 was another solo run by Andy as his usual codriver wasn’t available. This was to be a return to places we visited for the first time during Run 29. Before heading to the port, he dropped by our good friend “Wozza” who had aid items destined for Taras the Priest who was to… - Run 29 – August – September 2024
Run 29 was planned to be a major step forwards for us in finding new people in Ukraine that need help! We are extremely grateful to Damon “Wozzer” Warren who suggested that we join his extended convoy and get to meet some of his key contacts – an epic trip was envisaged but it turned… - Run 28 – July 2024
Huge thanks to all who donated aid for run 28 – we can’t do this without you! Here’s a few pictures of some of the donated aid from the Brighton area: Tracy Gray, Julie Harris & Veronica (dog food and blankets), Dee Johnson (lots of varied aid!), all at Brass Band Aid for Ukraine. Not… - Run 26 – May 2024
A big couple of weeks for the team as we have 2 vans going out over May and June! Run 26 was a solo run by Andy to Zaporizhzhia – his usual co-driver, Tony, wasn’t able to join him but did an excellent job on the pre run service! Our huge thanks to all who… - Andy Wooler talks to Learning News at Learning Technologies 2024
My thanks to Rob Clarke for making this short video – please follow him on X: @LNwire and on LinkedIn: @Learning News - Run 25 – March 2024
Run 25 was another excellent run with both vans involved! Prior to the run, there was a lot of activity at both ends of the country! Thanks to Michael Kobarenko, Mike had a lot of aid donated by Ukrainians In North Lincolnshire ,which was to be delivered to a specific charity in Zaporizhzhia, together with… - Run 24 – February 2024
Run 24 once again visited Zaporizhzhia in South East Ukraine. Because of the new customs rules, we have to be much more detailed in our paperwork and Mike, Annie & Andy spent a weekend compiling an inventory of our current aid located in Winterton to add to what we have in Brighton. Annie was amazed… - Run 23 – December 2023
Documentation for the new customs process, submitted, van loaded with the final pick up in Weeze happening on the way and Run 23 was underway! Huge thanks to all who donated aid: members and friends of Brighton & Hove City Brass, Uckfield Concert Brass, Lewes, Glynde and Beddingham Brass Band – LGB Brass, Sussex Symphony… - Run 21 – October 2023
No sooner is one run over than we prepared for the next one! Run 21 was a solo run with Andy’s van to Kyiv. Andy’s had just over 1 tonne on board! Special thanks to Dee Johnson at Thornbury Nursing Home in Uckfield, Ray Martin from Uckfield Concert Brass. Carrie & Jim in Ringmer. the… - Run 20 – September 2023
Run 20 was one of the biggest runs we have undertaken to date! Using 2 vans and a trailer, we took around 2.5T of much needed aid to Kyiv and Zaporizhia! It was also the first time that Mike, Andy and Guy had been on a run together!We were also joined by photo journalist Frank… - Run 19 – August 2023
Run 19 got off to a great start! Joining Andy on this trip was renowned Learning Podcaster John Helmer – you can learn more about John here. John & Andy chatted during the journey and the recordings will form one or 2 podcasts in the very near future!The destination for this run was the Military… - Run 19 – August 2023 – pre-run preparation!
No sooner has one run finished, we are already planning for Run 19! And this will be a run with a difference! Andy will be delivering aid to a hospital in Lviv on behalf of the East Sussex Ukraine support group led by Valentyna Skoromets, Oksana Tidman and Maria Savinova. This includes a number of… - Run 17 – June 2023 – Andy
Run 17 started with the final pickup of aid from Iryna Olyanovska of For Ukraine – Brighton & Hove which is to go via Nova Poshta to their chosen charity in Ukraine. Iryna kindly gave Andy a bag of food for the trip too – much appreciated!The next stop was Dover for an Irish Ferries… - Runs 17 & 18 – Collecting donated aid!
Hard to believe that this will be the 17th run for Mike and the 5th for Andy! Aid collection is well underway in both Winterton & Brighton areas! Huge thanks to Anna Pukas James and Kristina Pukas Cousins together with the residents from the Isle of Axholme. And in the South, huge thanks to Terry… - Run 16 – May 2023
No sooner are we back from run 15, it’s non stop now preparing for run 16! The team were busy at Ukraine Fundraiser 2022 HQ over the weekend making sure the van was good to go and adding the first part of the load. Mainly medical items, our huge thanks to Anna Pukas James, Kristina… - Run 15 – April 2023
This will be a milestone run as it is the first time that we go with an additional van and with that, our capacity has now doubled! Huge thanks to Mike and Karl who prepared Andy’s new van for its maiden run into Ukraine! We will update this post as the run gets underway! Between… - Run 14 – March 2023
Run 14, or run 13 from the UK!, is now well underway and the team have safely arrived in Brovary after a non stop drive all the way from Weeze in Germany”! This run includes for the first time, aid collected in the Sussex area under the banner of “Brass Band Aid for Ukraine”, together… - Run 13 – February 2023
It’s all hands on deck today (30th Jan) as the team have to sort, package and weigh each box – we need to do this for the Ukranian customs forms when we get to the border later this week. The run is well underway now having started with a non-stop drive through snow in Germany… - Run 12 – December 2022 January 2023
Run no.11 started with the collection of aid from our friends at Help Ukraine BAMK UK in Milton Keynes and personal donations from other benefactors. What made this trip special was the kind donation of a van which was to be taken to Zaporizhzhia where it is now being used as an ambulance by the…