On Wednesday the 12th October, I will be setting off on the biggest "adventure" of my lifetime: delivering an ambulance car to Ukraine, before turning around and cycling over 1,000 miles back home to Edinburgh, Scotland.

Why?

To help raise funds for urgent medical equipment for pregnant women and babies across Ukraine.

The Cause

"Winter is Coming" and the people of Ukraine still desperately need our help. Whilst the media coverage of Ukraine may have quietened, the missiles and artillery fire there have not. 

Since the 24th of February, I have been privileged to work alongside incredible individuals and organisations who are going above and beyond to ease the suffering of innocent men, women, children and animals in Ukraine.

Few more so than Baby Lifeline, a UK-based charity dedicated to improving the safety of pregnant women and babies. 

In Ukraine, Baby Lifeline have been shedding light in the darkness - providing custom-made midwifery bags that have been put to use delivering babies safely in bunkers and basements across Ukraine's frontlines. Through partnerships with local hospitals, and thanks to a wonderful partnership with the Association of Ukranians in Great Britain, Baby Lifeline have also facilitated the delivery of essential medical equipment to frontline hospitals: beds, incubators, anaesthetic machines - over £500,000 worth of medical aid has been sent to destinations in Irpin, Sumy, Mykolaiv, Odessa, Kharkiv and more - since the start of the war.

But the people of Ukraine still need our help and in the words of my very good friend, Igor: 

"Without the help of the entire civilized world, without people like you, we would not last long. Heroism without resources would just be a heroic end. 

Thank you for staying with us in this difficult time. Together, with you, we will prevail".

The 'mission'

On the 12th October, I will fly to Krakow where I will pick up an ambulance car kindly donated by Baby Lifeline and driven to Poland  by a fellow Scottish volunteer, along with a trailer packed full of essential emergency supplies for animals.  Over the following 48 hours, I will meet with our Ukrainian partners who will oversee the delivery of the car, trailer and aid to the frontlines. 

Thereafter, I will begin my long cycle home - travelling over 1,000 miles through 5 countries to make it back home to Edinburgh on or around the 5th November.  

I know it is going to be tough. I am no "cyclist" (and definitely no linguist) and I know that cycling for 21 days solid through 5 foreign countries without a support crew will not be without its "challenges" (and/or meltdowns). But it also feels wrong to say that I am travelling "unsupported" - as I have a whole host of incredible people back home: family, friends, Baby Lifeline and the amazing "Edinburgh Ukrainian Club" - one of whose volunteers will be matching my mileage on their exercise bike at home! 

I will do my best to keep you all updated during my trip but for now - thank you for being here, and for reading. 

See you at home - the whisky better be waiting!

Slainte Mhath!