***Adds in a line at the end with a link to the GoFundMe***
Hampshire couple set off in their motorhome. “literally a tonne of sweets”To offer assistance to those fleeing Ukraine.
Laura Rice, 62 and Ken, 65 from Andover, left Molly on Saturday to travel in Molly, the motorhome, with the intent of crossing the border between Ukraine/Poland.
They’ve taken tea, coffee, food, as well as warm clothes, and they said that they’ll offer lifts and the use of their bathroom to anyone who needs it.
Laura Rice and Ken Rice, her husband, will provide support for people fleeing Ukraine. (Laura Rice).
“We’ve always said to each other we’d love to give back to society,”Laura shared her thoughts with the PA news agency.
“Because we feel that we’ve really had a lovely life. And life has been good to us.
“Why don’t we just go and take our motorhome, which is called Molly, (and) the three of us go and see what we can do?
“We also do have a hot shower in our van – we want to get there and say to people ‘what is it that you’re needing at this moment in time?’
“Whatever they need or transportation they want, to get from one site to another place in Poland, we put them in the van and take them.”
Molly has been loaded with food (Laura Rice)
According to the UN Refugee Agency, more than 1.5 million people have fled Ukraine and entered neighbouring countries since the Russian invasion.
Filippo Grandi is the UN high commissioner to refugees. He tweeted Sunday that it was “the fastest growing refugee crisis in Europe since World War II”.
Laura and her husband, who are aiming to reach the city of Przemysl in south-east Poland, contacted Veterans In Action – a charity which helps veterans – to get an idea of where to go and what to take.
They were able to obtain plenty of warm clothing, such as scarves and hats, with the help of their neighbors.
The couple also work as directors at their son’s confectionery outlet – he donated so much in the way of chocolate and sweets that they now have “over 1,000 kilos”They can also keep treats in their backs.
While the pair are self-funding their trip, they have organised a GoFundMe page with all money going towards helping Ukrainians once they arrive – it had raised around £3,500 by midday on Sunday.
Laura claimed they will be there for two weeks before returning to their home, but that it is possible to stay longer. “no reason”They would never come back.
Laura ‘we’d love to give back to society’ (Laura Rice)
“If I could see somebody just having a hot shower (who) for a week hasn’t seen a shower (or) hot water, it would make both of us so happy,”She said.
“What will happen when we get there, it’s unknown to all of us. But if we can help a couple of families along the way, you know, success.”
To find out more about the couple’s GoFundMe, visit www.gofundme.com/f/direct-help-to-the-ukrainians.