Kiwi Ukrainians send wheelchairs and beds to war hospitals

• Published date: 16 April 2024
• Publication title: Whanganui Chronicle

The Ukrainian Association of New Zealand Northern Regions was able to source the wheelchairs and beds from different companies across New Zealand

However, bringing them to Auckland proved a problem.

Freight delivery company Mark Grey Carriers offered to drive from Auckland to Palmerston North to pick up the wheelchairs and bring them back to Auckland at no cost.

Auckland-based Ukrainian Edward Patkevych said they were stunned by the offer.

“They drove for two days — we offered to pay for their petrol but they said no,” he said.

“They said it’s our donation.”

The association’s traditional role is that of a cultural organisation to connect Ukrainian communities and hold cultural and culinary events.

However, that all changed on March 24 two years ago.

In July last year, the same group filled a 40-foot (12m) container with medicine, clothing, blankets, toys and other goods.

The filled containers are shipped to Poland, where charity organisations unpack the goods and load them on to trucks for delivery across Ukraine.

When the goods arrive in Ukraine, an organisation called Dobrovoz distributes them among families in need, as well as soldiers.

The $10,000 transportation costs of this container were funded by the Andrew Bagshaw Memorial Trust — a charity named after the New Zealand humanitarian aid worker killed in Ukraine in 2023.

Bagshaw’s father Philip said Andrew had become enamoured with Ukraine and the Ukrainian people while over there so he would have supported any chance to help them.

Patkevych said hospitals in Ukraine are now...