The war in Ukraine has already killed dozens of civilians and displaced millions. Tonny van de Ven (38) from Heiloo and his group of friends started a major relief campaign after three of his comrades left for Kiev last week to receive wounded soldiers. “We want to help the population, so we drive to the border with goods that are really needed, such as bandages and other medical devices. All help is welcome.”
The Russian invasion of Ukraine is coming eerily close for this Heiloose group of friends, explains Tonny. “We are a brotherhood, a motorcycle club from the Alkmaar region, consisting of a mixed bunch of friends. We have known each other for almost twenty years now. Three of us are from Ukraine and have family living there. About a week ago they left for Kiev to help wounded soldiers.”
A large Russian military convoy of 64 kilometers long is currently heading towards the capital. According to the three friends, there is a great lack of medical aids. “Now that our friends are in Kiev, it all comes very close. Seeing the terrible images on TV breaks your heart. This is the least we can do for the Ukrainian people.”
everything on everything
The friends left behind are now doing everything they can to deliver a truck full of medical supplies to the border of Poland within two weeks. “We bring the stuff to the border, we do not enter Ukraine ourselves. After we have handed over the goods, we immediately go back to the Netherlands. We have heard that this is quite sensitive and some aid is stopped at the border.”
Tonny has approached various companies and organizations and asked for help. “Our call is being answered quite well, so it’s already going a bit, but we really need a lot more help.”
The club of friends therefore hopes that more companies will register, so that they can drive to the border with a full truck. “Perhaps companies still have resources that have expired, for example, and can therefore no longer be sold. We want to leave with a truck full, then we really make a difference.”
The group hopes to travel to Ukraine within two weeks.