Jersey volunteers to drive a retired ambulance 1,700 miles to help war-torn Ukraine

A retired Jersey ambulance will be sent to Ukraine to aid charity work in the war-torn country.

Local volunteers Bob De La Haye and Dr Rhys Perkins will drive the frontline vehicle the 1,700-mile trip this autumn.

They will go in a police-escorted convoy of 25 to 30 other vehicles to western Ukraine before flying back to Jersey from Poland.

The ambulance was donated by the States of Jersey Ambulance Service (SoJAS) and will be filled with medical supplies to help save lives as the fighting and aerial attacks continue.

Bob was inspired by two friends who previously drove ambulances to Ukraine with the charity Pick Ups for Peace.

He then discovered that SoJAS were donating several retired ambulances after updating its fleet and managed to secure one for the Ukraine trip.

Bob explains: "I feel very strongly that [the situation in Ukraine] is rotten and that's why I wanted to get involved.

"The charity that we are dealing with are very well established and it's a cause close to our hearts."

Home Affairs Minister Mary Le Hegarat says the entire SoJAS fleet was replaced in April and the department is donating several of its old vehicles to charity, including the Jersey branch of the Radio Amateurs Emergency Network and Normandy Rescue.

She adds: "We have replaced seven frontline response ambulances and are awaiting an eighth to meet the increased demand on the service.

"This ensures our frontline paramedics and ambulance technicians are able to work in modern, fit-for-purpose vehicles when treating islanders in their care.

"We can pass on these now retired vehicles to good causes."

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