The other day, we happened to tune into Woman's Hour and heard two ladies talking about their upcoming mission to the Ukraine/Poland border. Their plan was to travel out in a convoy of four nine-seater minibuses packed with much-needed supplies and fill them for the return journey with 28 Ukrainian refugees headed to the safety of sponsor families here in the UK. 

They were working with Eden Aid, a soon-to-be-registered charity that has, at the time of writing, completed 21 rescue missions to the Ukrainian border – a feat that has seen 73 volunteer drivers and 62 minibuses cover 147,000 miles to deliver 187 pallets of aid. Most importantly, they have brought 267 displaced Ukrainian refugees back to the UK (as well as 54 dogs, 35 cats and one guinea pig!) and helped 102 more to move to new homes elsewhere in Europe. 

Upon hearing the ladies' story, we were instantly inspired. Like most people, we have felt horrified by the atrocities of the war in the Ukraine and the cruelty and upheaval inflicted on innocent civilians. Like most people, we have donated money and even helped to pack supplies destined for the Ukraine at our local airfield, but we still felt we had more to offer. 

Eden Aid sounded like the perfect opportunity to make a greater impact because the charity focuses especially on the most vulnerable – specifically, those that are unable to fly out. Perhaps they are too old or infirm, sick or disabled, or heavily pregnant. Perhaps they are mothers with multiple children for whom the logistics of flying are too overwhelming or expensive, or perhaps they have pets that they refuse, against all the odds, to leave behind. They are exclusively women and children, ripped from their homes, leaving behind sons, fathers and husbands and often carrying no more than a borrowed suitcase. 

Helping these people directly is, by all accounts, an incredibly humbling and emotional experience. Refugees from past missions include Sasha from Bucha, whose car was shot at as they fled, leaving her mother with nine bullet wounds. Lera with two-month-old baby Sophia, whose house was bombed to the ground. Olena, with five children between the ages of 3 and 14, who had never left her village before being relocated to a hostel in Warsaw. Lidia from Mariupol, who was deported to Russia, crossed the border with volunteers and has nothing to return to in her home country... The stories go on. 

There is a continuous stream of refugees hoping to travel overland to the UK, for many reasons but in particular: 

• People are finally making it to western Ukraine from the heavily bombed cities of Kharkiv, Mariupol and more, and managing to secure visas from there for the UK. 
• The pet licensing system, which has up until now been a fiasco, is finally starting to resolve itself and licenses are now being issued – but the only way to legally enter the UK with a pet is in a private vehicle. 
• Many that originally stayed behind are now realising the war is far from over and so have made the heart-wrenching decision to leave. With Kyiv coming under attack again, we will undoubtedly see even more refugees in the coming months. 

The story of the brave women (and men) who founded Eden Aid and undertake the journey weekly made my good friend Pip and I determined to join them. We will be part of a convoy departing on September 26 for the return trip to the border. We will drive through the night across Germany and Poland to deliver aid to organisations who will distribute it where it is most needed in the Ukraine. We then pick up our assignment of refugees in Warsaw and other cities along the way before arriving back in the UK four days later to deliver them and their beloved pets to their sponsor families. 

All Eden Aid volunteers are requested to fundraise to cover the cost of their trip, and although we have already paid our fee in full, we have decided to give our friends and family the opportunity to contribute as much or as little as they would like to in order to help the charity continue their invaluable work. By funding future rescue missions, we hope that as many Ukrainian families as possible will be given the opportunity to either start a new life away from the horrors of war, or to await their return to their men and their country when peace is at last declared. 

Please note that while monetary donations large or small are greatly appreciated, Eden Aid is also desperately keen to hear from anyone who might have the contacts necessary to lend or donate vehicles so that an even greater number of rescue missions can be scheduled. If you know of anybody who may be able to help, please let me know and I will gladly put you in contact with the charity directly. Thank you so much in advance for your support!