Wycombe nurse’s thousand mile aid drive to Poland

Nearly 2.5 million refugees are now scattered across Poland in what might look like a stone’s throw away from Ukraine, but their lives in turmoil.   

Now retired nurse Fiona Eddings started the fundraiser to get as many provisions as possible to support the humanitarian disaster affecting millions of Ukrainians.

“I didn’t want to be a bystander.

“But what I didn’t want was for the fundraiser to ever be about me," she stressed. 

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What started as £500 donations thanks to word of mouth through her children, became more than £2000, all of which will go towards the supplies like toiletries and non-perishable food items.  

She was on a holiday when the war broke out in February, and found herself in pains for those who were suffering.   

She said: “If I can do something to help, then that’s what I wanted to do." 

She then contacted Polish friends and asked what she could do to best help.

They knew a priest in Gdansk who was “crying out for help” as they had enough clothing but were struggling to feed everyone.

Refugee numbers in neighbouring countries on March 30 since the beginning of the Russian invasion (Credit: PA Graphics)

“I’m driving to Gdansk, and first it was a car, then a car with a top-box, then a bigger car and now it’s a van.”  

Once the van is fully stocked, she will use the rest of the funds to buy provisions in Poland, which will be much cheaper there than in the UK, such as buckwheat and oil.

She was mindful of ensuring all the products she brings are exactly what is needed thanks to advice from her contacts in Poland.  

“Things like kettles I’ll buy out there, so they’ll have the right plugs, which they’re desperate for.”

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Her plan is to set off on Thursday April 7, sleep at a friend's place in Netherlands and another stop in Germany before reaching Gdansk on Sunday April 10.

She said: “They know I’m a nurse, and I’m prepared to help out there, but what I don’t want is to be a nuisance there.  

“I’m staying with friends, so I’m not taking up any accommodation.”

Ms Eddings was footing all the costs for the journey herself – the van, petrol and accommodation.  

“Every penny I collect, will go directly to them out there.”

In the supplies, she’s also taking ‘boxes of smiles’ for the children, an age-related decorated box filled with drawing pads and pens, a soft toy, a skipping rope or a ball game and new clothes.

“Hopefully it will just give any child that’s given it a smile on their face.”

There’s no way to prepare for what waits at the destination.

“I used to be a nurse at the medical assessment unit. You never knew what would come through the door, so you prepared for the unexpected.”

The GoFundMe page can be found here.