A PAIR of generous drivers have set off on an epic 1,200-mile journey to Poland to drop-off vital humanitarian aid for Ukraine.

Andrew Park and Mark James began the mammoth drive from Millom to Poland yesterday morning to deliver much-needed goods to the people of Ukraine.

The pair is heading to Harwick where they will sail to Holland and drive through Germany into Poland. Here, the goods will be unloaded into a collection point and delivered in vans to various locations where they are needed.

Mr Park, who is a partner at the family-run firm Pelleymounters in Millom, said the pair only wanted to take goods that have been requested by the people, which include: face masks, theatre gowns, wheelchairs, prams, nappies, dried food and more.

“We wanted to do this to help the people,” he said.

“I was sat at home one night, having my tea and thought this was what people were doing two weeks ago before this is all happened.

“And now they have nothing and we should do something to help. We’re hoping to make someone’s life even slightly better with these donations.

“It’s been weeks trying to get all the paperwork sorted. I almost gave up on it all together because it was becoming so complicated getting everything through the border, but we got one final push off people and we made a few more calls to customs and manged to get the ball rolling.”

Mr Park has praised the kind-hearted public who have got behind the campaign and donated thousands to the cause.

He said: “So many people have got behind us over the past few weeks.

“Because we’re only taking goods over that have been requested, people really wanted to give donations and help contribute towards fuel to Poland and were dropping off what they could at the shop.

“By the end, we managed to raise £10k in donations from people which is just incredible.

“It’s amazing how people have come together and really got behind us on this.

“People have donated from far and wide.

“I’ve never done a massive amount of charity work before. I volunteer at Haverigg Inshore Rescue but I usually don’t have a lot of time for voluntary work but I felt it was important to what I can for this cause.

“We’re not 100 per cent where all the money will go towards yet. We’re thinking maybe towards the Ukranian refugees arriving in the UK to help them settle into life here.”

The pair is hoping to return to the UK by the weekend.

If you would like to make a donation, visit: www.gofundme.com/f/z6e2y-humanitarian-aid-for-the-people-of-ukraine