When members of the Royal Victoria Yacht Club suggested organising a fundraising event for Ukraine a few weeks ago, they had no idea how it would turn out. The evening, held last month, blew everyone out of the water and raised over £3,000.
A delicious Ukraine-themed meal (including Chicken Kyiv) was followed by an auction, presided over by RVYC member, Howard Knowles, who encouraged sometimes slightly reluctant bidding – although there was no reluctance to bid for the Isle of Wight Distillery items. The auction was followed by the raffle draw.
The total raised from the evening was over £3,000 – way above what the club had hoped for. This sum has now risen to over £4,000, thanks to members’ donations and the proceeds from the club’s Easter duck race.
Helen Vrba, Vice-Commodore, has said:
“One of our members contacted Daniel Williams for advice on how best to fundraise, what to raise money for and how to ensure it got to the right people, in the right place, at the right time. Daniel had a great knowledge base and was very helpful to us in deciding how we could best support the humanitarian relief effort”.
Daniel, who grew up in Wootton, has recently been on TV as he, his wife and baby endeavoured to leave their home in Ukraine and make the perilous journey from Kyiv and then across the border into Poland. Since making it back to the Island, Dan has also made trips back to Eastern Europe with aid relief.
Helen continues:
“We were hugely grateful for all the prizes and items donated both for the auction and raffle, particularly Mermaid Gin, Wightlink, Harold George and Harwoods Garage. Such generosity was quite humbling – the situation in Ukraine has certainly touched people’s hearts in a way not seen for a long time”.
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A quality used ambulance is being purchased and kitted out with medical supplies and will be used at a children’s hospital in Kyiv. On the side of the ambulance will be signage explaining where the money was raised, along with the RVYC branding, making a lasting legacy for the club and cementing the Isle of Wight’s and RVYC’s ties with Ukraine.
That’s a fantastic effort from everybody bravo
Could’nt someone ‘in the know’ about Social Media, organise a large demonstration outside the Russian Embassy in London (not Trafalgar Square) and on a weekday, when the ‘staff’ and diplomats are there ?
We could all lay down outside to represent those killed..
There are so may of us who want to express our disgust against this evil regime.