A MEETING of local Lions Clubs, to which the general public were invited, was held at the Boniface Centre in Crediton on Tuesday, May 16.

Guests and Lions alike were spellbound by the presentation given by Andy and Emma Burnard of Callington Lions Club about their many trips sending much needed goods for distribution by colleagues in Ukraine.

They were assisted by Phil and Jill who are about to join Tavistock Lions Club who have also been on all the trips so far undertaken.  They brought with them two vans and it needed both to collect the vast quantities of material collected in Crediton and our area.

The goods included two generators, food, confectionery as well as medicines and surplus equipment kindly supplied by Redlands Primary Care. Crutches, hearing aids, spectacles and much, much more.

Each trip consists of about 12 vans, each with a co-driver for the 2,500-mile round trip to Warsaw in Poland.

The journey is self-funded by "Sending Love to Ukraine" and costs about £1,200 per vehicle to pay for fuel, accommodation, tolls and ferries for the five days taken for each journey.

On arrival goods are transferred at a secret location, only identified as they get near, and are often immediately driven on to the area of need. This can often be near the front line in the case of the medical equipment.

The welcome the drivers get was reported as fantastic by Andrew. Emma spoke of the knitted teddies that are made in large quantities by local Lions and friends termed by them as "Teddies" that take away tears.

They always keep "Teddies" at hand to help.

She spoke of how they often bring back refugees to the UK on the return journeys and the tears of joy as they meet up with their loved ones waiting for them as they arrive on British soil.

Guests at the event felt quite emotional as they heard first hand of Andy and Emma’s experiences. 

"The group who undertakes these journeys are truly ordinary people doing extraordinary deeds,” said Crediton Lion Peter Bryan, who organised the event.

This was also brought home when one of locally hosted refugees stood and made a very moving speech at the end of a very interesting question session.

The guests then spent some time informally answering questions from those present.

Collections are still required from the list, particularly small items which cost a lot in Ukraine but are quite cheap here, eg, paracetamol which are pence here but the equivalent of £10 there. So, if you are able, please keep giving.

Crediton Lions will be pleased to receive donations in cash or kind towards their costs.

A collection after the event was generously supported.  

Sending Love to Ukraine is a remarkable programme in Devon and Cornwall brought about by the initiative of cabbie, Darren Tait, in Callington and supported and extended by Lions Clubs.

Hazel Evely, Crediton Lions President, presented a £200 cheque towards the costs of the May 28 trip, to Andy and Emma.

Lion Peter Bryan said that if reading about the service that Lions get involved in has interested you, then please make contact with them.

Any Lion would be pleased to talk to you.  The Crediton Club meets monthly and there are many opportunities to help and become part of the world’s largest Service club organisation with more than 1.6 million Lions throughout the world.

Please contact any member of the Crediton and District Lions Club or telephone 01363 773437 for more information and to see if Lions could be for you.