Malton, Norton & District Lions

Press release

22 June 2021

Contact: Di Keal – 07593682402

Lions join forces on Ukrainian aid trip

Two Ryedale Lions Clubs have joined forces to help ship aid to war torn Ukraine.

Malton, Norton and District and Ryedale Lions have jointly funded ferry costs to take a caravan and transit van loaded with shoeboxes filled with aid from Thornton Dale School, food, clothes, baby supplies and even a couple of bikes on the trip to the Ukraine-Polish border.

Organiser, David Thomas, from Thornton Dale said:

“We launched the appeal to gather goods to send to support refugees a couple of months ago and people have been so very generous - we have been inundated with a wide variety of items that will be helpful for people who have been displaced.

“I would like to thank Ryedale and Malton & Norton Lions for their generosity in supporting the final piece in the jigsaw and funding some of the travel costs for the trip – it has made a huge difference.

“The plan is to take the van and caravan to the border with Ukraine and, if everything goes to plan, empty out the aid supplies and leave it in the care of a Ukrainian family who have lost their home during the war as short term accommodation.”

Annie Harrison, President of Malton, Norton and District Lions, said:

“Watching the news that has been coming out of Ukrainian for months now, no-one could not be horrified by the plight of the people whose lives have been devastated by the war.

“We are delighted to do our bit as local Lions as a collaborative effort with Ryedale to support this wonderful local initiative that will see much needed aid delivered to people in such desperate circumstances.”

Ryedale Lions Service Director, Andrew Mansfield, said

“Ryedale Lions were delighted to join with Malton Lions to support this local initiative for the people in Ukraine.”

Notes:

Pic shows, L to R:

Andrew Mansfield, Ryedale Lions, Russ Grimshaw, Malton, Norton & District Lions, Annie Harrison, President of Malton Lions, Andy Tilson with son, Ollie, Andy Tock, Di Keal, Malton Lions and Roy Foggin, Ryedale Lions.