Story By ROBIN GREEN

Northampton West Rotary Club has forged close links with Ukraine during the course of the conflict.

They organised a fund-raising concert at Overstone Golf Club in Northampton featuring Ukrainian musicians Konstantin and Daria who fled the capital Kyiv a year ago to settle in the UK with their daughter.

Back in the Ukraine, the couple were busy as recording artists, and following the Russian invasion in 2022 played a number of charity concerts in the country. However, with the bombing of Kyiv and other Ukrainian towns the family headed to the Midlands hosted by Tony and Vicky in their home.

Meanwhile, the Northampton West Rotarians have also been supporting humanitarian efforts in Ukraine, working with the charity Medical Life Lines.

They are a group of volunteers liaising with pharmaceutical companies, pharmacies and hospitals across the UK to procure medical equipment and supplies.

Medical Life Lines directly supports neonatal centres, where staff struggle to care for premature babies.

Thanks to financial support from the likes of the Rotary Club of Northampton West, the charity is also purchasing and receiving donations of ambulances that are equipped and in good working order, but have been financially written off in the UK.

They send ambulances filled with medical equipment and supplies across the Poland-Ukraine border via a network of volunteer drivers for further direct distribution through local network of volunteers to Ukrainian hospitals most in need.

Earlier this year, eight volunteer drivers from Medical Life Lines set off from London in four ambulances filled with everything from crutches and medical aid to dog food for search and rescue dogs, to cover 1,350 miles to Lviv.

The journey progressed well through Europe and ultimately crossed the border into Ukraine without mechanical problems, which is unusual as there are often engine issues when the ambulances do this kind of driving after their normal short trips.

As the vehicles were being imported, this took three-and-a-half hours for the final stretch over pot holed road to Lviv.

Three of the ambulances will go to the Ministry of Health for onward delivery to hospitals near the front line in Avdiivka, Shalygin, and Zaporizhzia where civilians still live in the most awful conditions.

The fourth has been delivered to the State Emergency Service of Ukraine in the Zhytomyr oblast, bordering Belarus, who will use it to evacuate victims of missile attacks as well as from fires and road traffic accidents.

As part of Medical Life Lines Ukraine's continuing efforts, they also delivered critical components that will be used to get a high reach rescue vehicle working, as well as hospital consumables such as paediatric anaesthetic tubes. All of this will lead directly to lives being saved that would otherwise have been lost.

Among those who made the trip was Susan Dunn, a Paul Harris Fellow, whose mother is a member of Northampton West Rotary.

She said: “We visited a military hospital that evening which was filled with young men suffering lost limbs and other trauma injuries in a hospital Florence Nightingale wouldn't have looked out of place in. It was incredibly sobering.

“So-called modern warfare looks no different than World War One in terms of the injuries suffered. The next day we witnessed two funerals of young soldiers, the funerals being announced daily on the town square, and yet daily life carries on much as usual because it has to.

“The common refrain from those we met was 'thank you all so much for doing this, it makes us feel less alone'. Everyone we met was very warm and welcoming, and their spirit is formidable, but this war is exhausting.

“We are asked whether what we deliver is needed and whether Ukrainians are in fact grateful. Before we deliver anything, we check and verify the need - we believe strongly that we should deliver what is needed and not just what we can get.

“We were honoured to be met by senior people from the Ministry of Health as well as by the General commanding the State Emergency Service of Ukraine in the Zhytomyr oblast. This is a region through which the Russians sought to attack Kyiv in February and March 2022 and has been mined as a result. It is also a region from which 256 firefighters died in the Chernobyl disaster.

“When senior people take time out of hugely busy lives to look you in the eye, shake your hand or frequently envelop you in a huge hug) and say ‘thank you’ in faltering English, you can be left in no doubt at all about the intensity and genuineness of the gratitude.

“Ukraine continues to fight hard. The spirit of Ukrainians remains strong. Increasingly though they ask what will happen next.”

Susan said the plan was to take another fleet of ambulances to Ukraine in June, possibly as many as 10. She said she was grateful for the support from Northampton West Rotary to the work of Medical Life Lines.

She added: “It is great to see such direct action and the need is ongoing. Thank you so much Northampton West for your invaluable contribution to this cause, it is so much appreciated.”

Find out more by visiting the Medical Life Lines website.

Meanwhile, the Rotary Club of Wokingham in Berkshire held a quiz night in April which raised £1,400 to provide ambulances to Ukraine.

They were supported by event sponsors Siren Brewery and SHARE Wokingham, and the money will be instrumental in providing essential medical transportation to the people of Ukraine, offering a lifeline in times of crisis.

The ongoing conflict in Ukraine has resulted in immense humanitarian needs, with medical services being particularly strained. Recognising this urgent need, Rotary has mobilised its members and the local community to support this vital cause.

"We are deeply grateful to everyone who attended our quiz night and contributed to this important cause," said Nick Campbell-White, President of the Rotary Club of Wokingham. "The overwhelming support from our community demonstrates the power of collective action in addressing humanitarian crises."