25-04-2025
Galloway duo appeal for donations ahead of mercy mission to war-ravaged Ukraine
A Galloway duo are planning their next mercy mission to war-ravaged Ukraine in August and urgently need more donations. Retired printer Andy Macdonald, aged 69, from Kirkcudbright, is the founder of a non-profit organisation called which is raising funds to buy, service and deliver ambulances to Ukraine for urgent humanitarian needs. This is through sales at outlets across Scotland of artist Ritchie Collins' print, 'Field of Hope', and a range of his greeting cards which have also all been donated. And he has teamed up with 63-year-old former truck driver – and now volunteer hospital patient driver and first responder – Iain Gordon from Stranraer, who has a long history of humanitarian support for Ukraine in recent years. Soon after the invasion of Ukraine by Russian troops, Iain was asked if he would drive a truck with humanitarian aid out and since that initial journey he has made 16 further trips, spending a week or ten days deep in eastern Ukraine each time, delivering whatever is needed. With funding support from his home town and across Dumfries and Galloway, he fills a vehicle up for the trip and takes it to whoever is most in need. This has included ambulances, 4x4s and disability minibuses. Iain said: ' In the past few months Andy and I have donated a Ford Kuga 4x4 which is being used by a former commander in the military who, after being seriously wounded, now helps a specialist hospital in Kharkiv who deal with amputation and catastrophic spinal injuries. 'We have also donated a disability minibus to a charity organisation near Kharkiv which will be used for health and social care of the children and elderly in their community. 'Another 4x4 donated was a Suzuki Grand Vitara which will be used to take aid to village communities near front lines where a 4x4 is the only means of getting there.' It can take four days to reach eastern Ukraine and between ferries and fuel and the return, each trip can cost £900 to £1,500 alone. The next trip is planned for August 13 and they plan to take three vehicles across. Iain said: 'We will be taking a donated LWB Renault Master van from a fire and rescue group in Fife which is fully equipped with everything required to fight fire. This will be used by an administration in a village community just 9km from Russian lines and will help save houses attacked and also save the lives of those living there. 'It will also have on board medical and mobility supplies including 15 wheelchairs, many crutches and a new palliative care type bed with air mattress and this will be going to a trauma hospital in Kharkiv dealing with amputation and catastrophic spinal injuries. 'On the same trip we will be taking a donated Skoda Roomster from a lovely lady in Kirkcowan, which we will fill full of new children's clothing and gifts. 'The whole thing will be donated to the authority looking after a large group of orphans near Kharkiv. They will further use this car in social care aspects of the children's care. 'Also on this trip we are taking a Volvo XC90 AWD that Andy and I have paid for with our own money which will be full of civilian aid and medical supplies. 'When the aid from this is distributed to those in need, the car is being donated to a psychological team who are caring for soldiers, paramedics and firefighters as well as first responders affected because of the trauma of the war. Click here for more news and sport from Dumfries and Galloway. 'All three vehicles will be tidied cosmetically and serviced and fully checked before leaving.' The pair have also paid for their own ferry out and flight home but are appealing for help to buy the items they need to take over. Iain, who can be contacted via email at: iaingordon1@ or via his Facebook page, said: 'We desperately need funding from anyone willing to help. 'If you feel this is something you could help with a small contribution towards our costs it would be much appreciated. 'This war is nowhere near finished and every day many, many people and children are injured and killed with so many others losing their homes and all they own. I know this because I have seen this with my own eyes and dealt with these people personally on many occasions. 'Many times I have been right to the front line and the most dangerous places in order to give help and aid to the injured as well as many broken, desperate people.' The pair, who are keen to talk to groups about their charity work, will also be at Lockerbie Ice Rink on Sunday, April 27, from 11am until 2pm at a Rotary event, where there is an auction and stalls. Andy will have large framed prints in the auction and a stall selling prints with all money made going to the trip. His website is Donate at:
