Local residents, mainly from Leamington Spa, embarked on a humanitarian mission to Ukraine at the end of September, delivering vital medical supplies and emergency vehicles to those affected by the ongoing war in Ukraine.

The team consisted of four vehicles, including two ambulances and two 4x4s, driven by the eight committed volunteers.

They took on three days of hard driving - over 12 hours a day.

Their journey began collecting medical supplies at the Aid for Ukraine shop in the Royal Priors Shopping Centre, as well as from Medical Aid Ukraine, run by Dr. Tania Hebert. These supplies would later become a lifeline for those in need.

Day one saw a 6am start from Leamington to Folkestone before travelling through the tunnel. Their crossing was paid for by Eurotunnel. From there they travelled deep into Holland.

Day two marked another 6.30am start before the team traversed the autobahns of Germany.

Driving was made all the more challenging with the ambulances restricted to a speed of 60mph due to limiters fitted to the vehicles.

After another 500 miles of driving, they reached their hotel for the night at around 7pm, tired but knowing they had broken the back of the trip.

Early morning team photo in Poland en ruite to Ukraine (image supplied)

Day three saw a poignant visit to Auschwitz which the volunteers described as an "extremely emotional few hours".

They were given a tour and paid tribute to the victims of the totalitarian regime.

The team's next stop was the small town of Lezajsk in eastern Poland. Here, Mayor Krzysztof Sobolenko and Caritas has established a central hub for humanitarian aid for Ukraine. Over the past year, more than 2,050 lorries filled with aid had made their way to Ukraine, thanks to the tireless efforts of the local community.

The team then divided, with Matt, Anthony, and Dave heading to Ukraine itself.

After a few hours of waiting at the border, they were welcomed by Deputy Commander of the 45th Airborne Assault Brigade, Konstantin Oleinyk, and two other officers.

These officers had travelled a considerable distance from the Donbas area to express their gratitude for the support received. They also provided crucial updates on the current situation, highlighting the importance of the aid being delivered.

At the Ukraine border in the early hours of the morning (image supplied)

The following day, the trio rejoined their companions in Krakow. Their vehicles, numbered 12, 13, 14, and 15, were laden with aid for Ukrainian hospitals, generously provided by the Aid for Ukraine organization.

Since Russia's illegal invasion started in January last year, the extraordinary collaboration between the Polish Centre in Royal Leamington Spa and LKQ Euro Car Parts has raised just under £200,000 and sent over 200 tons of aid, exemplifying the power of collective action in times of crisis.

One of the remarkable aspects of this mission was the diverse group of individuals who came together to make it happen.

Local Member of Parliament, Matt Western, joined forces with Peter Mason, while His Honour Anthony Cleary OBE partnered with David Blick from the Warwickshire Gin Company.

Charles Rogers and George Eden formed another dynamic duo, and the last vehicle was driven by Dawid Kozlowski and Chris Brown. Drivers who aged from 21 up to 87 rounded out the team, each adding their expertise and commitment to the mission.

The local's journey to Ukraine stands as a "shining example of compassion, solidarity, and international cooperation".

On the journey, Mr Western said: "The gratitude on the faces of the Ukrainian soldiers we met at the border will remain with me for ever.

"They were simply astonished by the generosity of our community and businesses in donating these four vehicles.

"Through an interpreter they were able to express their thanks which was clearly emotional."

The eight drivers, Matt Western MP, Charles Rodgers, David Blick, Dawid Kozlowski, George Eden, Kris Brown, Pete Mason and Tony Cleary OBE, stopping for a driver changeover in Germany (image supplied)

Dawid Kozlowski, from the Polish Centre added: "We are proud to stand with Ukraine in these challenging times. We have delivered another four much-needed vehicles, demonstrating our commitment to supporting Ukraine's resilience despite the fact that the war is not on the front news anymore, people are still dying and by standing together as a community we are showing people of Ukraine that they are not alone.

"We also commend the dedicated involvement of MP Matt Western in this crucial endeavour."

Richard Morgan, chief operating officer at LKQ Euro Car Parts, said: "It is truly humbling to see so many people – local residents and LKQ Euro Car Parts colleagues in all corners of the country – pool effort and resources to help families in Ukraine who need urgent support.

"The effort so far is admirable and this is by no means the end – we will all continue to do whatever we can to fundraise and gather much-needed donations that we know make a real difference on the ground."