Arising from the terrible hardships inflicted on the Ukraine, a group led by the Stockhouse Restaurant from Trim, Co Meath, decided to try and do something to alleviate the suffering. It was decided to procure 4 x 4 jeeps, fill them with essential aid and drive them from Trim to Rosslare. Then board the ferry to France, drive the jeeps through France, Belgium, Holland, Germany and Poland. Then cross the Polish Ukraine border into Ukraine. Each vehicle had two volunteers to share the driving. The trip took 5-days. Start on a Monday with a return to Dublin the following Saturday.
Fundraising was put in place, companies, businesses, groups and individuals donated money, jeeps, ambulances, aid items that ranged from medical equipment, food, sweets, toys to petfood and spare tyres. Individuals donated their own time to get the jeeps ready for the journey. There was great public support which was much appreciated.
The first aid convoy took place on the 20 September 2022. This was followed by trip 2 in November 2022, trip 3 in February 2023 and trip 4 in October 2024. On each trip a Ukrainian welcoming party was on hand to receive the jeeps and much needed aid. The convoy volunteers were given a tremendous reception, delicious food and some gifts for each individual volunteer.
This convoy was the fifth organised and implemented by the Irish 4x4s for Ukraine project, based in the StockHouse Restaurant in Trim, Co Meath,
Ukrainian ambassador spoke about what this trip means for her and her people. She explains that the 4x4s and ambulances will be used for “extractions” from the battlefront and of civilians living near the front line. “These Jeeps will save lives. every day,” Gerasko says
The ambulances are stuffed with medical supplies, spare parts, portable heaters and a couple of defibrillators. They drive at the rear of the convoy, where they can help any car that stops; one of the crew is a qualified mechanic. The rest of the convoy is made up of seven 4x4s jammed with medical supplies, generators, tools, spare parts, 43 sets of crutches, nappies, etc etc, each of the 4x4s has been financed through donations. The vehicles covered hundreds of kilometres in a well-choreographed convoy. Well done, OPC Trim.
