Vans Without Borders veteran, Councillor Paul Zukowskyj, needs your help to keep his truck on the road so he can continue supporting those in need across Ukraine. Paul’s truck plays a crucial role in our aid operation, he uses it to collect donations from across the UK, which are then shipped from our warehouse to our humanitarian partners in Ukraine.
The truck is essential to our collection efforts. Its large size allows Paul to transport bulky and awkwardly shaped medical equipment - like hospital beds and hoists - that simply wouldn’t fit in a standard van.
Thanks to Paul's efforts and truck we have been able to send ten large lorries laden with over 100 tonnes of aid to Ukraine!
Paul's truck has also completed multiple missions delivering vital aid to Ukraine and Ukrainians from Lviv to Kharkiv. This was alongside rescuing aid stuck at the Polish border to Ukrainian charities, who were unable to collect the aid due to the cost associated with shipping it commercially or collecting over multiple trips in smaller vehicles. However Paul and his truck ensured that this aid reached its intended recipients without any cost to the charities!
Paul’s truck is a large and vital vehicle, but it comes with significant running costs. Specialist insurance alone costs over £2,000 per year. On top of that, the truck is due for its MOT, and essential repairs are estimated to cost between £1,000–£2,000 to ensure it passes.
It’s also important to note that Cllr Paul bought this truck himself in 2022, investing a significant amount of his own money specifically to support our aid efforts in Ukraine. He has never charged us a penny for using the truck to collect and deliver donations. This fundraising is our way of saying thank you - to help cover the running costs and keep the truck going for another year.
We’re aiming to raise £5,000 to cover these expenses and keep the truck running for another year. Any leftover funds will go towards fuel costs.
Thank you for your support in helping keeping Vans Without Borders going.