ReactAid - Our Story

Recent Press - Helensburgh Advertiser

Sat, 25 Feb 2023 11:07:46 GMT

The Russian invasion. One year on...

Erin at the Helensburgh Advertiser recently contacted me to talk about the Invasion, one year on.

'A Rosneath man has described his first twelve months delivering humanitarian aid in Ukraine as “relentless”, but the harrowing scenes will not put him off offering support in any way he can.'

You can read the full story by clicking here

A special thank you to The Olde Christmas Shoppe & Autumn Brown for their support in raising awareness and vital donations.

'Today we pay our respects to our fallen brothers and sisters taken too soon for no real reason.

With your help, we will continue to support a handful of amazing NGOs and volunteers on the ground in Ukraine.

Thank you for all that you do.

Glory to the heroes. Glory to Ukraine.'

Support us directly - Our Crowdfunder page is here

Donated Ambulance - Saving Ukraine 2022

Thu, 23 Feb 2023 12:39:09 GMT

Saving Ukraine 2022's donated Ambulance

This week we have been donated this beauty from Saving Ukraine 2022 , which is here in the UK and soon to be on its way to be fully operational for medical evacuations and assistance in Ukraine.

As a team we help bring some form of hope and comfort in times of need.

Maybe you can help towards fuel costs getting this ambulance to Ukraine?

Would you like to be a monthly sponsor and help us keep this ambulance running at full capacity, we would love to hear from you.

Brits In Battle Ukraine BBC Documentary

Thu, 16 Feb 2023 19:53:23 GMT

A revealing look at the life of British fighters on the frontlines of Ukraine.

This Friday the 17th of February, ReactAid and Ukraine Air Rescue have a little mention in this documentary on the BBC channel and iplayer.

We are super grateful to BBC Reporter Emma Vardy for joining us on one of our medical evacuations and helping to raise awareness of the ongoing Ukrainian invasion.

You can watch the Documentary on demand from Friday evening by clicking here

Help us do more by donating HERE

#BritsinBattle

#ReactAid

Recent Press

Sat, 14 Jan 2023 21:18:05 GMT

Recent Press Coverage

We were recently featured in the Daily Record - Read more here

Donate to our Crowdfunder here

Shareef Amin - Medivac debrief

Thu, 22 Dec 2022 09:29:35 GMT

Shareef Amin - Casualty evacuation brief, debrief.

Manchester to Krakow to Odesa to Rzesow to Germany to Bristol.

Shareef was brought to ReactAids attention through our mutual friend Rob Paxman from Paradigm Security Services.

Shareef was caught in a two way fire fight, where he sustained injuries form gunshots wounds and artillery shrapnel. He suffered two punctured lungs, injuries to every limb and various shrapnel damage all over his body.

ReactAid set about planning his evacuation while staying in constant comms with Shareef.

On Fri 17th Ewen and Craig made their way from Krakow airport. We were loaned an ambulance which died on us 44km into the mission. We were now in the middle of nowhere at 1am in minus 7.

Luckily we met a group of Ukrainian lads who were heading to the border and after many hours trying to get the ambulance going we made the decision to leave it and get to Shareef in Odesa by any means. So the guys gave us a lift to Medyka.

Now 7am. While Craig got some shut eye Ewen messaged round everyone he knew and reached out to many that he didn't. Luckily his friend Fynn was the man who came good and offered us the use of one of his vehicles. But we needed to wait an extra day. However because we had a private jet booked, the decision was made that we take the train from lviv to odesa. Thank you Fynn.

One of Craig's contacts in country met us at the border and brought us to their hotel in Lviv. We had some food and booked our train tickets.

Now moving 100kgs of kit on foot we made our way to odesa. We arrived at 8am , met up with our contacts there, ditched some kit and made our way to Shareef.

There were many problems in Odesa which can't be shared at the time of writing, however we were too far in to turn back now.

We booked three cabins on the train. One for medical, one for the resting medic and one for Shareefs Mrs and her 10 year old son.

We arrived in Lviv and set about finding accommodation to perform obs and to rest. Ewen went off to the medical centre there to drop some medical supplies and surgery equipment off to Dr Yaser then made his way back to Craig, Shareef and the others.

Ewen had a zoom meeting with the pilots and coordinators of Ukraine Air Rescue and we managed to push the jet back a few hours to given us time to get across the border into Poland. Once In Poland we met up with Emma Vardy who is working on a project and her and Marek sorted us an apartment while we waited for the plane.

Once at Rzesow, the combat medic bags put together in the UK were shipped out to Poland via the plane and on their way to the front line. Helen and her son went via a commercial flight and Shareef, Craig, Marek and Ewen got on the jet.

We returned to the UK via a refuel in Germany.

Special thanks to:

Ewens GT crew

Barrett Steel

Autumn (Rosneath peninsula) and a handful of kind strangers for their financial support.

Ukraine Air Rescue.

The lads serving in the 93rd brigade who helped us and a load of official bodies who wish to remain anonymous.

Finally, as this mission was underway we we given news that at the same time as us getting out of dodge, the air team managed to evacuate 18 children with cancer from Odesa out of Ukraine.

1 casualty

2 refugees

18 poorly children

All now in a safer place getting the support they need and all just before Christmas.

Craig and I are still getting our heads round how we managed to pull all of this off.

If you'd like to help us help others you can donate through our Crowdfunder Campaign here - Thank you!

30th March 2022

Tue, 10 May 2022 08:38:21 GMT

One of our first missions

Your support is changing lives!

Food and medical Aid delivered, we then evacuated a family in the (fuelled by your £‘s) ambulances back to Poland.

Border safely crossed, we used google translate to communicate that they were now in Poland - the emotion of which will stay with me forever.

It’s with their permission I share their photo and wish them a safe onward journey.

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