After a stint embedded with a Ukrainian unit training to fight the Russians, a Campbell River man is raising money to send stretchers to Ukraine because thatB次元官网网址檚 one of two items the unitB次元官网网址檚 trainer said he needs.

B次元官网网址淚 asked Magnus, B次元官网网址榠f I could send two things, what would you need?B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� Darrell McKay said. B次元官网网址淎nd he says, B次元官网网址榖ody bags and stretchers.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淎 sobering thing to say.B次元官网网址�

McKay decided to focus on the stretchers. What theyB次元官网网址檙e using in Ukraine, at least in some places, which is now 481 days into an invasion from neighbouring Russia, is rope wound into a figure eight design.

B次元官网网址淭heyB次元官网网址檙e putting the wounded on the rope and theyB次元官网网址檙e pulling them out as quick as they can on a rope, which puts guys at risk (of a spinal injury),B次元官网网址� McKay said.

So, the stretchers McKay is raising funds for are not big rigid carriers but portable ones worth $37 each and made out of cordura B次元官网网址� B次元官网网址渓ike backpack material,B次元官网网址� he says. They can be folded up and stuffed in a backpack.

B次元官网网址淎nd for $37 they can save a life,B次元官网网址� McKay said.

McKay is not long back from his fourth trip to Ukraine to provide humanitarian aid. This trip wasnB次元官网网址檛 just spent embedded with a training unit, that was just a side activity that he was invited to. Most of the six weeks he was in Ukraine in April and May was working with a NGO (non-governmental organization) called Ukrainian Patriot, a small organization founded in Saskatchewan. He worked in their warehouse but that included a run to the eastern part of the country near the Russian border and close to the heavy fighting.

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B次元官网网址淭he closest we were to the Russian front was maybe 15k,B次元官网网址� McKay said. B次元官网网址淎nd we could see Bahkmut burning.B次元官网网址�

The group McKay was with brought food, medical supplies and goods and even hot water tanks to the city of Kramatorsk in the area of the Russian border near the Crimea. There is a refugee shelter there for the people from Bahkmut.

B次元官网网址淭hey had nowhere to shower, they just had, just kind of like, rooms to live in B次元官网网址� (with) the money that I had raised, I bought a hot water tank for these people. And we installed that B次元官网网址� or started B次元官网网址� the install is done now. So these people living kind of in squalor now have hot water, they can shower at least now,B次元官网网址� McKay said.

He also was involved in delivering food to liberated villages.

B次元官网网址淎nd driving through there was pretty heartbreaking,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淓very single building on the outskirts of town for miles and miles B次元官网网址� (there) wasnB次元官网网址檛 an intact building.B次元官网网址�

When delivering food to one town, they met a 94-year-old woman who was a refugee from Bahkmut.

B次元官网网址淚 couldnB次元官网网址檛 believe her hope, her determination and her faith in the people,B次元官网网址� McKay said. B次元官网网址淪he said (through a translator), B次元官网网址業 have faith in my boys. IB次元官网网址檒l be home soon.B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址�

McKay was exposed to many incredible experiences during his six weeks in Ukraine B次元官网网址� constant air raids and for the last week when he was in the east, it was B次元官网网址渃onstant mortar attacks.B次元官网网址�

He says Ukraine is a beautiful country, not unlike our own Canadian prairies in Saskatchewan. One moment, though, youB次元官网网址檙e in beautiful fields of canola in bloom and then you pass a bus that has numbers like 200 and 300 on the back. One number is the number of wounded and the other is the number of bodies being retrieved and being taken back to their families.

Another experience he had was falling in with a volunteer from Sweden with a military background providing training for the Ukrainian military. His name was Magnus, no last name given. Because McKay is a photographer, he was invited along on a live fire photo shoot with a group of about 14-16 young men. There was supposed to be tanks involved with the training session but they were called to the front.

B次元官网网址淭heyB次元官网网址檙e just like us, there are kids that work in the grocery store or farm boys or whatever. TheyB次元官网网址檙e out there defending their country. TheyB次元官网网址檙e the real heroes,B次元官网网址� McKay said.

McKay said he just doesnB次元官网网址檛 want Canadians to forget about Ukraine as the conflict wears on. So, he talks about his experiences and heB次元官网网址檚 doing the fundraiser for the stretchers. If you want to help out you can connect with his Facebook group, or email him at darrellontheisland@gmail.com.

editor@campbellrivermirror.com
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