Average Kiwi plans to help save lives in Ukraine
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More lives saved
20 October 2025On Friday 17th Oct I heard from the soldiers who have one of the 4WD’s you all generously contributed to. It is still going strong and is avoiding targeting by Russian drone. On the day before it took 7 wounded soldiers from the frontline to stabilisation bases. It has been doing this work since late July.
Whilst Ukraine still faces a massive struggle for its sovereignty, independence, people and freedom, your contribution is definitely making a difference and saving lives.
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Appeal extended
1 October 2025 -
More humanitarian aid to Ukraine
1 October 2025Hi, I got back from a second trip to Ukraine on 28th Sept. Please use the link below to see details.
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Back to Ukraine
21 September 2025Hi All,
I have the opportunity to take a mini bus and aid over to Ukraine to donate for the evacuation of front line villages. Traveling with my old friend Richard Crosby. We will collect a 2nd van full of aid from Krakow which the Ukraine Mission team relocated from the UK last week and take this into Ukraine too.
Off Monday 22nd.
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More images at link below
18 August 20250 comments | Login to leave a comment -
image
18 August 2025 -
Photo
18 August 2025 -
New update about the rest of the trip is available below -
18 August 2025My apologies but the word limit stops me posting it on Give a Little : )
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Into Poland 2
7 August 2025 -
Into Poland
7 August 202519 July Day 2 Kassel to Krakow. 09.00hrs depart, 23.30 arrive. Highlights: beautiful scenery around the Rhine valley, quick roads and finding out Grant, the
team Joker, was actually serious when he said he had managed to order burger and chips from the bar at 23.45hrs! Surprises...it’s hard to stop a sock flying off the dashboard and out the window when driving at 120Kph; changing a trailer from one vehicle to another in the dark at the end of the toll road can actually be done, despite the disbelief and agitation of two Polish officials.
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Here is the start to a brief snap shot of my journey to deliver the Casevac 4WD and humanitarian aid to frontline troops.
5 August 2025Prep day:
17 July. From Devon to Guildford. With the Isuzu Trooper now fully loaded with tourniquets, haemostatic gauze, Nato stretchers, bed rolls, drag stretchers, a gurney, some canned food, camp beds, additional bandages, and a box for Fever Tree, I headed to a friend’s sisters place for the night.
18 July Day 1 Guildford to Kassel. 04.30hrs start for an 08.00hrs sailing from Dover to Calais and onwards, driving to Kassel. Memories of the day....loosing the convoy after being walled in on all sides by articulated trucks creeping along a ridiculously busy 4 lance highway and missing the exist to our hotel in Kassel and having to drive another 24 km after a 16hr journey. The highlight was finding out my roommate did not snore!
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Ukraine Mission
5 August 2025Ukraine Mission was established as a UK registered CIC (not for profit) organization over 3 years ago by a small group of like minded Brits who felt compelled to help. The effectiveness of their work results from a small, responsive, dedicated and humble volunteer team. The team delivers humanitarian aid and vehicles to East Ukraine and literally puts it into the hands of Ukrainians working in their own communities in the most needy areas, rather than taking it to warehouses where it can get left insitu, held up, or delayed by bureaucratic processes.
Doing this means going further east and south towards the frontline, meeting locals and developing contacts with other organisations. I met Drs, community workers, emergency rescue training organisation representatives and a truly remarkable Kiwi.
Along the way I experienced times of excitement, tiredness, friendship, boredom, laughter, exhaustion, fun, gratitude, deep sadness, compassion, horror, privilege, frustration, fear, piss taking, connection, appreciation and loneliness. I was impressed, humbled and warmly received by the Ukrainians I met. There were times everything felt like an alien, other times things were familiar, but every day, in every location, from Poland and a 1000miles beyond, someone always welcomed me like a brother. Their stories and situations were both heartbreaking and inspiring. There was true appreciation for what you all contributed to.
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3rd Image
27 July 2025 -
2nd image
27 July 2025 -
Mission accomplished
27 July 2025Dear All,
A quick update to say “Mission accomplished.” I am now back in sunny Devon after an intense 9 days!
You will be able to get more updates about my 4 day, 3200km+ drive from Devon to SE Ukraine and the return journey by train, plane and automobile after I get some more sleep. These will be posted on:
https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/average-kiwi-plans-to-help-save-lives-in-ukraine
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61575782336049
https://localgiving.org/fundraising/AverageDadfromNZaisingfundsforUkraineMission
Before then, thanks again for everyone’s support, I can assure you your contribution will make a difference by going directly into the hands of community organisations doing work to save lives and help the wounded and needy.
Go well.
Matt
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On the way to buy a vehicle
16 July 2025 -
Vehicle located and bought
16 July 2025Hello All,
On Friday 11th July I bought a vehicle, a mechanically sound Isuzu Trooper, previously owned from new by an ex F1 mechanic. It’s no race car, but it’s going to do the job. I have had a new tyre fitted and spent the best part of two days cleaning it up, getting a new tyre fitted and making sure I have what I need for the journey.
I meet the rest of the convoy near London on 17th July , when we will load the vehicles and prepare to depart on the 18th.
Thanks again for your support.
Matt
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Just 3.5% to go!
3 July 2025Hello all,
A brief update from sunny Devon, where I arrived yesterday. There have been some great contributions over the past few weeks and we are sitting at 96.5% of the target figure. A big thank you to everyone.
I will be in contact with Ukraine Mission and we will be sorting a vehicle out over the next few weeks for our departure on 18 July.
It would be great to get to our target figure, so please do pass the word around to anyone who maybe interested.
Go well,
Matt
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We are at 80% of our target! Thank you every one
23 June 2025Great news. We are now at 80% of the target across all platforms contributing to the fundraisers. Thank you everyone.
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Getting close to our target now!
13 June 2025Hi, we have had some amazing support from around the globe and we are now at 73% of our target. Let's get this over the line! Thank you. Slava Ukraini!
Remember, we are raising funds through other platforms, so our progress is far better than what you see just on Give a Little.
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We are well on the way!
8 June 2025Great news, we are 54% of our target, thank you everyone. What you see on Give a Little isn't the full picture because I have a UK fund raising page at
https://localgiving.org/fundraising/AverageDadfromNZaisingfundsforUkraineMission
I have also received direct donations.
Thanks again for your support and please do spread the word.
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Revised goal
27 May 2025Hi, thanks for your support. I have revised the goal to one vehicle.
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