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The 18-25 yr old Scouts that now find themselves on the front line of a war zone

Monmouthshire Scouts have been calling on the wider community in a bid to send much needed resources to fellow Scouts and Scouters, that find themselves on the front line in the Ukraine.

County Commissioner David Carylon of Gilwen, obtained a shopping list of required supplies, directly from personal friend and fellow Scouter Yaroslav Kolodiy, before setting about buying and filling 2 vans to the rafters. Dave and his wife Ceri leave Monmouthshire tonight (Friday 4th March) by ferry, delivering humanitarian aid on route to the Ukrainian border, where the supplies will be handed directly to Yaroslav for distribution. The supplies travelling over this weekend, will kit out a platoon of 18-25 yr old Network Scouts who are on the front line, assisting to defend the city of Ternopil.

Chepstow Scouter Heidi Marriott-Trevains said ” These are young men that have been forced to leave their studies, careers and female family members, to be left alone to fight for their futures. It is frightening to think that this could be our Network Scouts on the front line and indeed our own children.”

Yaroslav & his wife Viktoria, both medical doctors by profession, set up their own craft business some years ago, which is how they first met Dave & Ceri at a tradefair in London. Business of course has been put on hold, as Viktoria and her younger children fled a country they loved, via Hungry and onto Vienna where they were reunited with her middle children who are at university there. Yaroslav and the eldest sons have remained, in order to fight for a country they love, a freedom they cherish and what is ultimately, theirs.

“Seeing Scouts in the bordering countries working at train stations and in reception centres, makes me very proud indeed to wear the uniform” said Ceri. Scouts from other parts of Europe and as far as the USA have been raising the vital funds to buy the Mitsubishi L200s, which are quicker and more manoeuvrable that armoured military vehicles, but as the Ukranian infrastructure continues to be smashed, more of these vehicles are urgently required.

The supplies which filled the 2 vans are only a drop in the ocean, so Scouts throughout Monmouthshire from Sedbury & Tidenham, up to Monmouth & Abergavenny are now calling on the wider community for kindness and generosity. Dave said “So long as supplies continue to be donated, we shall continue to drive them over to the Ukraine.

For more information on how you can support, please contact Dave Carlyon on 07494460537 or visit their crowd funding page https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/help-ukrainians-buy-essentials?fbclid=IwAR1OPUKePtZ_9VLFCOtaHIPfYwg8rI0yOF0IjjFukY6X0Pksds9VGk999R4

Yaroslav Kolodiy and family

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