Llyr Jones from Llanfihangel Glyn Myfyr, near Corwen, in north Wales, worked with friends and family to coordinate the charitable effort, which saw over £24,000-worth of aid delivered to support the victims of the ongoing conflict.
Supported by a group of six friends, Llyr and the group drove three vehicles packed with supplies to two spots along the border.
Among the small convoy was a Land Rover Llyr had purchased to donate to support Ukrainian farmers, along with a trailer kindly supplied by Corwen-based company Ifor Williams Trailers.
The group departed north Wales at around 6pm on Thursday 10 March stopping at Carrefour wholesalers in Dunkirk to collect the supplies before heading on to the Ukrainian border. The party arrived safely back in north Wales at around 10am on Monday 14 March.
Llyr, the winner of this year’s Meurig Raymond Award at the NFU Conference, explained that he’d felt compelled to support the people of Ukraine after watching the war unfolding in the media. Given he’d had previous experience in carrying out long-distance charity missions in Africa a decade before, Llyr felt he was well placed to make a difference.
He said: “I’d noticed that people were taking clothes to central collection points, which obviously is very kind, but I knew that it was food that was needed. When you’re escaping a war in 12-24 hours’ time you’re not necessarily worried about what coat you’re wearing – you’re worried about where your next meal is coming from.
Think we deserve this tonight.
— Llŷr Derwydd 🏴 (@LlyrDerwydd) March 12, 2022
Thank you everyone for all your help. Think what we achieved in 8 days was amazing. @LowriWilliams2 @DutchFarmerInUA @superbryni @jacd0 #UkraineWillResist #wearewelshfarmers pic.twitter.com/9H6kzmetlB
“Over the course of a week the idea really did snowball and before we knew it, we had £24,000 in donations. I was really touched that ahead of us leaving for Ukraine we’d had ladies driving to the farmyard to donate £20 because they’d heard what we were doing. The people at the wholesaler were incredibly generous too as they donated a whole pallet of food to add to the £8,000 of food we’d already purchased.”
When the Welsh group reached the Ukraine border, they were surrounded by people from all over Europe giving donations to support those affected and displaced by the war.
"It was nice, because although no-one could fully understand one another, it felt like all of Europe was coming together to help each other."
Llyr Jones
Llyr said: “We were unloading the goods for around four hours and everyone there was helping each other. It was nice, because although no-one could fully understand one another, it felt like all of Europe was coming together to help each other.
“It was a relief to unload the last pallet and be on our way home knowing everyone was safe. I didn’t do anything heroic. It was those at home who did the organising and logistics that deserve the credit - sorting the paperwork and itemising the itineraries for the medical equipment. All I did was drink way too much coffee and eat too much Haribo to deliver the stuff! I also realise I was so lucky to be in a position to help, because I knew the farm was in safe hands.
“I think what the group has achieved over the course of eight days in terms of the planning, receiving £24,000 of donations and then delivering that aid to the border, is pretty amazing.”