Gary Fear, an estate agent from Gnosall, Staffordshire, is preparing for his ninth trip to Ukraine to deliver essential supplies, following his impressive fundraising efforts. Since the onset of the conflict, Fear has raised almost £100,000 through an online fundraiser, which he initiated before his first visit in April 2022.
On his upcoming trip, set to depart on Tuesday, Fear will bring £14,000 to purchase food and other crucial supplies for those affected by the war. This amount will cover a substantial quantity of food and at least one generator for a village that has been left without electricity due to the ongoing conflict.
Fear described the support from the community as “incredible” and expressed how meaningful it is to witness the gratitude of those receiving aid. “When you see the expression on the face of someone you hand some food to, or when they start crying because someone has taken the trouble to do that… it makes it all worthwhile,” he said.
Reflecting on the situation in Ukraine, Fear noted that conditions have deteriorated. He mentioned experiencing areas under shelling and witnessing increased destruction and displacement of people.
Despite the challenges, Fear praised the solidarity shown by people in Staffordshire and is already planning his tenth trip to Ukraine for January next year.