Local grandad to drive medical aid to Ukraine

A local grandfather is to drive an ambulance full of medical supplies to war-torn Ukraine. 

Stephen Ryder, a presenter on Warminster Community Radio, and his co-driver Winkie Fry will be part of a convoy of six ambulances each packed with six tonnes of medical aid being driven to Ukraine in January.   

Mighty Convoy is a volunteer-run UK charity that delivers second-hand ambulances with medical supplies to Ukraine, and Stephen is fundraising to help fund the purchase of an ambulance and supplies.

Launched in 2022, Mighty Convoy has already led 18 trips to Ukraine, raised over £500,000, and donated 78 ambulances and 4×4 pick-ups, which are used to transport wounded soldiers away from the front line.

“Since the invasion of Ukraine, I’ve been looking for ways in which I can help,” said Stephen. “We need to do everything we can to stop Vladimir Putin and to help the people of Ukraine.

“When I heard about Mighty Convoy I knew this was something I could do. I drove a lot for my job and still enjoy driving today – although I’ve never driven an ambulance before.

“Six ambulances a week are destroyed in Russian attacks and the UK government has only delivered 25 ambulances to Ukraine since the war started, which is frankly a bit pathetic.”

Ambulances are sourced through specialist vehicle auctions and typically cost around £7,000 each.

They are then packed with medical supplies before a group of drivers and co-drivers leave the UK in convoy from Dover to Calais, and through France, Belgium and the Netherlands to Germany.

Following a rest stop the convoy then heads to Kraków in Poland and then crosses the border to Lviv, 50 miles into Western Ukraine.

The 1,200 mile journey involves 24 hours’ of driving, not including stops, with a driver and co-driver in each vehicle taking it in turns behind the wheel.

While Lviv is 600 miles from the frontline, visiting is not without risk.

A curfew is in force from midnight until 5am and at the beginning of October 50 missiles and 500 drones were launched at the city in one night and five people were killed.

From Lviv, the Christian Medical Association of Ukraine takes ownership of the vehicles and medical supplies, and drives them to the south and east of the country where they are desperately needed.

Before he leaves the UK, Stephen wants to raise £7,000 to help fund the purchase of an ambulance and supplies.

To support his fundraising, visit https://www.justgiving.com/page/stephen-ryder-1