My name is Craig and I am currently raising funds for my next humanitarian mission to support Ukraine in their fight against terrorist Russia.
As I write this, 34 Ukrainian people have been killed (including children) and over a hundred injured in a horrific Russian missile attack in Sumy - despite the ongoing 'peace' talks.
I have been contacted by an organisation based in Lviv who produce drones, antennas and other materials for Ukrainian soldiers. They have asked for my help with building drones at their HQ in the city.
You can find them on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61567917029002
I am also in contact with other NGOs in both Lviv and Kyiv - who would like me to go there and provide help if possible.
I want to be able to help as much as I can and for as long as I can, so if you would like to support my next mission with a donation I will be truly grateful.
Please feel free to share my fundraiser with your community, family and friends.
Thank you for your time.
~ Craig
#StandWithUkraine
You can read my full story below..
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POLAND
On March 7th, 2022 I quit my job and flew to Poland on the same day to help with the Ukraine refugee crisis following the unprovoked and illegal invasion by Russia.
I had been watching events unfold on TV and social media and decided that I couldn't just sit and watch, I had to do something. I didn't tell my family until after I arrived. They were shocked, but they supported me.
When I arrived in Poland I worked at a the Full Market refugee centre in the city of Rzeszów.
The 500-bed refugee centre had a dining area, clothing room, toilet facilities, kindergarten/play area and a medical team on site to help those in need - mostly women, children and the elderly.
A few days later I was approached by a charity foundation, Pod Skrzydlem Anioła, who asked for my help and transported me to Cieszanów, where I worked at a humanitarian aid hub near the Budomierz-Hrushiv border.
The operation at the supply hub was run by the people of the Folkowisko Foundation, who came to Ukraine’s aid at the very beginning of the conflict.
By the time I left there, the operation had sent over 2,000 tons of humanitarian aid across the border, reaching cities such as Mariupol, Kiev, Kharkiv, Sumy and Kherson.
Five weeks later, after hearing about the 'Homes For Ukraine' scheme set up by our government, I started working to help connect Ukrainian families, women and children with sponsors in the UK so they could relocate to safety there.
The sponsorship scheme was not known by the Polish people or the Ukrainian refugees, so I found the official documentation and went to a local printers in Rzeszów to create handouts in both English and Ukrainian.
On April 14th I began a journey across Poland on a personal mission to put official government documents on display in all of the train stations and refugee centres. 9 cities in 12 days.
Rzeszów - Lublin - Łódź - Warsaw - Gdańsk - Bydgoszcz - Poznań - Wrocław - Kraków
I also created a Facebook page and Telegram account to allow Ukrainian refugees to reach out for help to find a sponsor under our government scheme.
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UKRAINE
On May 3rd I travelled across the border to Lviv, Ukraine. I was only there two hours when the railway station I arrived at was struck with four cruise missiles. I was in the street at the time and heard the explosions.
I instantly witnessed the true reality these people are living in. Air raid sirens going off in the day and the middle of the night.
During my time in Lviv I had at 2 or 3 meetings every day to explain and give information about our government scheme to Ukrainian people that were interested to relocate to UK during the conflict.
I left home with only a backpack and a change of clothes for a week or so. I arrived back home 70 days later.
I was also featured in a news article which was written during my time in Poland, before I went to Ukraine:
https://www.newsshopper.co.uk/news/20101824.bromley-man-quits-waitrose-job-help-ukrainians/
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I returned to Ukraine in 2023 after being contacted by an NGO in Lviv who asked for my assistance.
The organisation cooperate with public institutions - libraries, cinemas, kindergartens and take care of many large families, work with refugees, families in need, single mothers. They also transport items, cook for soldiers and refugees, provide psychological help and organise workshops for children.
Thanks to generous donations received during my second fundraising campaign I was able to successfully help for an extended period of time.
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