Banbury-area charity receives top Ukrainian honour for vital healthcare delivery missions
A Banbury-area charity has received one of Ukraine’s highest honours in recognition of its efforts to deliver vital aid and vehicles to the country.
Driving Ukraine was founded by Deddington man Fynn Watt just a month after Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022.
Since then, the group has delivered almost 400 vehicles to Ukraine in more than 60 convoys and raised more than £2.8 million to support frontline medical evacuation efforts.
In August this year, Driving Ukraine completed its biggest delivery mission, when 71 volunteers took a total of 26 vehicles to the group’s counterparts in Lviv.
On Tuesday, October 27, Fynn and others associated with Driving Ukraine received the Order of Saint Panteleimon at Speaker’s House within the UK Parliament.
The Order of Saint Panteleimon is widely regarded as Ukraine’s highest honour for medicine, healthcare and humanitarian service. It was presented to the charity in recognition of its work delivering vehicles and aid used by the Ukrainian military.
Eparchial Bishop Kenneth Nowakowski, head of the Ukrainian Catholic Church in London, presented the award to Fynn at a ceremony hosted by Sir Lindsay Hoyle MP, Speaker of the House of Commons.
Speaking afterwards, a spokesperson for Driving Ukraine said: “Today, in Ukraine, saving a life happens when four wheels are put in the right place at the right time. As long as we have you behind us when that moment comes, we want to be there, continuing to save lives.”
For more information about Driving Ukraine, including how to donate or volunteer, visit: https://drivingukraine.org/