Caithness response to Ukraine appeal sees 170 first-aid kits being delivered
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An appeal launched by a Caithness man has resulted in 170 first-aid kits being despatched to help civilians injured in the war in Ukraine.
Steve Gibson began his campaign in January, in the lead-up to the first anniversary of the invasion by Russia. He urged local businesses, schools and other organisations to donate any first-aid supplies that had passed their use-by dates.
This week the first-aid kits, along with disposable aprons and hand sanitiser, were taken south from Ashley Ann’s base in Wick – the main collection point – on the first leg of the journey to Ukraine.
The load consisted of three pallets of about two cubic metres each.
Equipment that no longer meets health and safety requirements in the UK can still be put to good use in helping war casualties, Steve points out.
He is supporting the work of humanitarian aid volunteers Jack Vincent and Terry Rumble. Steve’s connection with Terry goes back to 1971 when they joined the RAF together.
Steve, who lives at Bilbster, served in the RAF for 25 years and is a former health and safety manager at Ashley Ann.
He is delighted with the support from the company, which designs, manufactures and installs kitchens, bedrooms and bathrooms.
"I'm very pleased with what they've done," Steve said. "They gave me a dedicated room to put stuff in."
He added: "Terry is over the moon. It will make a big difference to them.
"We've emptied all the first-aid kits into bigger cardboard boxes and they take a big cardboard box full of bandages and other items and drop them off at children's homes, old folk's homes, that type of thing."
Steve is also grateful to Alexander Glasgow, who arranged collections in Thurso, and to staff at Pulteneytown People's Project in Wick.
Ashley Ann is playing its part in transporting the kits to the Manchester area to be picked up. React Transport Services offered to take them on to a departure point in Thirsk, North Yorkshire.
Steve says donations will still be accepted. The main collection point is next to the café entrance at the rear of Ashley Ann's factory at Wick Airport Industrial Estate, during working hours.
Steve believes that unused supplies given to home care patients who have since passed away or moved into a home could be sent to Ukraine rather than go to waste.
"Even though it's still in its packaging, because it has come from an uncontrolled environment they've got to send it away to the incinerator," he explained.
According to the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, there had been just over 24,000 civilian casualties in Ukraine up until last Sunday – 8895 killed and 15,117 injured.
