Plan to take truck to Ukraine for wounded soldiers
Two men from Wolverhampton volunteer to raise funds for a truck they would drive 1,300 miles to Lviv.
Two Wolverhampton men are aiming to acquire a truck to transport injured frontline soldiers to hospitals in Ukraine, seeking to raise £7,000 for the purchase. Steve Morris, 64, and Brian Gunter, 58, intend to embark on this journey in late September. This follows their previous trip in 2022, when they delivered food and medical supplies to the country in a van.
Morris stated that the proposed aid would be delivered once more, with the pair likely returning by train after leaving the truck with the Ukrainian army. He explained that the trip was conceived after his friend encountered Ukrainians during buhurt (combat competitions) in Europe, and both men knew individuals who had died due to the war.
Morris remarked, "A lot of people who were part of the Ukraine [buhurt] team, Brian's friends, are or were of fighting age. Some of them didn't come back." He added that Gunter was "pretty close to friends who died on the battlefield." Morris emphasized, "One is too many, and more than one is more than too many."
Gunter was photographed holding an item gifted to him by a Ukrainian artist during their 2022 aid delivery.
Morris described a remote-controlled vehicle, operated by Ukrainians, "with tracks as opposed to wheels, like a small tank," which rescues wounded individuals from the battlefield. This vehicle transports them to a safe location where Ukrainian medics can provide first aid. Subsequently, the "evacuation" vehicle, which Morris and Gunter hope to deliver, would take over and transport the wounded to a hospital.
Morris, a celebrant, stated that they are scheduled to travel 1,300 miles to Lviv, Ukraine, for a three-day period. He confirmed that the trip is being organized by the charity Driving Ukraine, with a target departure date of September 23, and plans to travel in a convoy with other vehicles. He mentioned he would share the driving with Gunter, who works as a sign writer and graphic design artist.
In 2022, they delivered thousands of small items, valued at approximately £10,000, to the Ukrainian border in Gunter's work van, following "fantastic support" in the West Midlands. Morris added, "We're making a small difference." He indicated that an appeal for supplies would likely be launched closer to the planned trip to ensure the items are as fresh as possible before their journey.