Vehicle Security Firm Backs Courier Employee’s Desire to Join Ukraine Aid Convoy

Vehicle security and van fleet compliance specialist, HH Driveright, is taking part in a mission, transporting much-needed humanitarian aid items to Ukrainian families and orphanages, masterminded by two passionate men from the Selby area.

HH Driveright, itself based in Yorkshire, is backing the next trip planned by Stuart Davison and Mitch Mitchell.  This amazing pair have already made seven trips to the Ukraine and invested many thousands of pounds of their own money, to ensure Ukrainian families and orphanages have vital supplies.

In the latest mission, which departed from Yorkshire on Sunday, January 28, there is another driver involved.  This is Ian Wilson, who works at HH Driveright’s sister company, JM Hall Couriers.  Ian desperately wanted to show his own support for Ukraine, having learned of Stuart and Mitch’s trips through a friend, who is also involved.

Knowing Ian needed financial support in order to take part, and did not have time to raise funds via a ‘giving’ page, HH Driveright stepped in and offered to cover his expenses as his sponsor.  This covers the cost of aspects of the trip such as the ferry crossing and fuel.

In addition, JM Hall Couriers has provided him with a van from its fleet and arranged all the necessary covers for the vehicle.   This is fitted with an HH Driveright GM2020  tracker, which will be adapted to solely operate in a mode that will collect details of the CO2 generated by the trip.  In a true net zero way, HH Driveright will later offset the carbon, by arranging to plant trees in the areas impacted by the journey.

This mission is transporting items that organisations such as the Red Cross cannot take to the Ukraine, due to the limitations on their remit.  This includes quilts, sleeping bags, dried food, sanitary products and warm clothing.  

It is also ensuring that the Ukraine receives three ambulances.  Goods generously donated by people in Selby and its surrounding area, were first taken to London by van and then repacked into the ambulances, which are in huge demand in the Ukraine.  These, and the new HH Driveright vehicle, then headed to the south coast, to depart by ferry and started the long trip across mainland Europe.

The team involved will head across the Ukraine, ensuring they stop at orphanages along the way. They will stay with families, in places like Poland, who have already become firm friends during the previous missions.  They will also be meeting up with former ‘Panorama’ journalist, John Sweeney, who returned to the front line at the age of 64.

The small, independent convoy will visit some of the worst-affected areas of the Ukraine, including those in which recent shelling activity has been rife.

The trip has been co-ordinated with the help of the Ukrainian Embassy in London and the group is accompanied by a film crew, who are recording the journey, to help raise awareness of what is happening in the Ukraine.

The efforts of Stuart and Mitch have already attracted the attention of Boris Johnson, who has recorded a video message for them, saying: “ I just want to say a million thanks to you for everything you're doing to bring stuff to the people of Ukraine - the humanitarian mission that you're running, I know that it makes a huge difference to them."

For Ian Wilson, this will be baptism of fire, being his first trip to the Ukraine.  It is something he passionately wishes to do, however, and he is grateful to HH Driveright for helping to make it happen.

Managing director, Rebecca Hall, says, “When Ian came to us and told us of the fantastic work that Stuart and Mitch are doing and the opportunity for him to be involved, we knew we simply had to help him fulfil his desire to help.  We quickly accessed a vehicle that he could use and JM Hall Couriers are, of course, allowing him the time away from work to make the trip.  

“The financial side is catered for and we just want to see him make the trip safely and come back to us, having fulfilled his ambition of helping those who really need it the most, at this awful moment in time.”

Updates will be posted by HH Driveright at www.hhdriveright.com

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Editors notes

HH Driveright is an award-winning vehicle security and compliance specialist, with exciting and advanced solutions for van drivers, caravan owners and car drivers wishing to protect their vehicles, livelihood and reputation. It won the 'Keeping Your Show on the Road' award at the 2022 Logistics UK Van Awards and is continually finding ways to achieve that goal, to keep vehicles and their drivers or owners safe and protected.