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The Polish community provides ambulances to Ukraine

The Polish community in the Warwickshire town is at the forefront of delivering aid from the region to people living in Ukraine.

The latest ambulance, packed with aid to support victims of the Russia-Ukraine war, left Royal Leamington Spa on Monday morning.

Since the start of the conflict, more than 40 vehicles have made the three-day trip to Leżajsk on the Polish/Ukraine border, along with 250 tons of aid so far.

Each ambulance costs between £7,000-£8,000 to purchase, plus the cost of sorting vehicles for the journey across Europe.

A green ambulance at a military base in Ukraine with about 60 soldiers in military uniform. Their faces are hidden for security reasons.

One of the donated ambulances was used to train the Ukrainian military [Leamington Polish Centre]

Dawid Kozlowski, of Royal Leamington Spa’s Polish Centre, said: “We are very proud of what we have achieved for such a small organization and it means a lot to our community.”

Mr Kozlowski works for LKQ Euro Car Parts, which has provided major financial support to the charity, while Warwick and Leamington MP Matt Western has taken part in two recent trips.

During the war, the Leamington group even delivered six washing machines to a group of nuns who support displaced people.

“It’s not the kind of thing you think, but these are the problems they have,” said Mr. Kozlowski.

“We see a lot of people in the community who want to get involved. As we said from day one, it’s not just a Polish project.

“We are now at a stage where most of our volunteers are not Polish and it is good to see.”

Ten men in a European station with three old ambulances. Seven wore black shirts, two gray and one white. They also have two Land Rover cars. One is gray, the other is black.Ten men in a European station with old ambulances. Seven wore black shirts, two gray and one white. They also have two Land Rover cars. One is gray, the other is black.

Three old ambulances were delivered to Ukraine in April [Leamington Polish Centre]

The latest trip will also bring travel aids to Ukraine for soldiers who have lost their legs.

The Leamington charity also helped fund a 14-year-old boy’s eye surgery.

“When we planned to take ambulance number one into Ukraine, we arranged for Ignit and his mother to cross the border to meet us,” said Mr. Kozlowski.

“He came to me and said ‘thank you for giving me a second life’ and he realizes that a single person can make a difference in someone else’s life.”

Twenty-four children dressed in summer clothes at a playground in Ukraine with chocolate easter eggsTwenty-four children dressed in summer clothes at a playground in Ukraine with chocolate easter eggs

Easter eggs delivered to Royal Leamington Spa find their way into the hands of orphaned and homeless children in central Ukraine [Leamington Polish Centre]

The Mayor of Royal Leamington Spa, Judith Clarke, attended an event at the Poland Center earlier this year and said she was “impressed with what they are doing”.

“I was very humbled to meet these people,” he said.

She talked to her husband Steve after the event and decided to sign up as a driver for this week’s trip with her lifelong friend Kaz Librowski, her Polish parents, and another friend Paul Elsden.

“I am proud that Steve took this challenge to help the people of Ukraine,” he said.

“A lot of people in Leamington have taken in Ukrainian refugees and that was a sign of what a good community we are and, all over Warwickshire, people are helping.”

Three green ambulances are lined up at the crossing between Poland and Ukraine. The rectangular Ukraine sign has blue and orange halves.Three green ambulances are lined up at the crossing between Poland and Ukraine. The rectangular Ukraine sign has blue and orange halves.

Three ambulances from Royal Leamington Spa are ready to cross to Ukraine after crossing France, Holland, Germany and Poland. [Leamington Polish Centre]

A friend of the mayor added: “I’ve known about this project for a long time, then Judith went to an event at the Poland Centre, she told me about it and I thought ‘I’d like to do that sometime’.”

“I’m very motivated by anything that stops Putin. I don’t think we can allow an armed attack to succeed.

“All it takes for evil to succeed is for good people to do nothing, so at least we’re doing something.”

“It helps and I’m sure the Ukrainian people appreciate it.”

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