UK farmers double their target to aid Ukraine with four-wheel drive vehicles

Vehicles donated by Pick-ups for Peace as part of the second convoy.

Forty-five vehicles have now been delivered over two trips and another 50 pledged. The original fundraising target of £100,000 has almost been reached, but will also be doubled to cover the cost of transporting the vehicles and bringing volunteer drivers back home.  In addition to the generosity of private individuals and groups providing vehicles, donating funds and volunteering to drive the trucks to Ukraine, corporate donations have also been received from in the form of a quad bike and ten generators from Springfield Properties, and four vehicles from Trinity Grain.

Trips are planned monthly until at least June, with around 30 vehicles in each convoy. April’s consignment will include two vans which are being converted into ambulances by paramedics at a Suffolk charity.

Vince Gillingham, co-founder of Pick-ups for Peace

Vince Gillingham, Pick-ups for Peace co-founder, who has just returned from delivering the second cohort of vehicles to Lviv, said “The war won’t wait, and we must do everything we can to help our friends in Ukraine. Our contacts there are overwhelmed by the generosity of all those who have given time, money, vehicles and urgent supplies for us to transport to the west of the country, however, we are agonisingly motivated to double our original target of 100 vehicles because Ukraine will take as many vehicles as we can send.

“The pick-ups we’ve delivered have already and continue to save countless lives as they transport injured troops from the frontline and ferry generators and food to those who need them, including hospitals. The vehicles must drive extremely fast over rough ground and under constant bombardment. This is a humanitarian call. Please help.”

Nicola Alexander of Cantyhall Farm, Fife, who also took part in the most recent trip, said “I just wanted to help in any way I could. I had been sorting out supplies for the first trip at a local depot wanted to do more.

“I feel so privileged to have taken part. Some of the soldiers we met in Ukraine were farmers like us; that is, until the war began. Hearing their stories of huge loss – of homes, friends, their children’s friends, and seeing the ever-growing burial site in Lviv, with newly-dug graves and their accompanying photos was so, so sad.

The second convoy to Lviv, 2023

“As we neared the border to go home, we had to get off the mini-bus and walk. There were miles and miles of vehicles leaving the country and you could see the sadness in the occupants’ faces; it completely took my mind off myself and my own problems and made me think about what’s going on in the world.

“I got involved in this trip through my husband’s friend, Mark Laird, who helped start P4P, but there were five ladies on the trip, including a good friend of mine, who jumped at the chance to join just a few days before we departed. We’re looking to get more girls on future trips. I felt incredibly safe the whole time I was there. A lot of people want to help support Ukraine but don’t know how. If you want to support Pick-ups-for-Peace you can help by donating or volunteering.”

Vehicles can be up to 15 years old and have more than 100,000 miles on the clock, however they need a valid MOT certificate and good tyres. The group are also seeking urgent supplies of quad bikes and dirt bikes, winter clothing, tarpaulins, spades, screen wash, diesel cans, jump leads, ratchet straps, spare fan belts, generators, tow slings, first aid kits, dry food goods, spare tyres, night vision equipment, spare batteries, old phones and cable ties of all sizes.

Information on how you can donate can be found here.