Students from the Newcastle University Medical School are helping to save lives in Ukraine by sending vital first aid supplies to those affected by the conflict.
Olga Gumenyuk, a British- Ukrainian PhD student at Newcastle University, and fellow PhD student Issac Goh, came up with the idea of setting up an initiative called First Aid Ukraine to help people on the frontline of the war against Russia.
Items including c atheters, slings and cannulas have been donated by the university's medical school and handed to organisation Medical Aid Ukraine North East (MAUNE) who will be transporting the supplies to Ukraine in the coming weeks.
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Olga, 25, moved to the UK from Ukraine with her family 20 years ago and still has loved ones in the country. She felt compelled to help by sending the supplies and hopes that money will be raised via a JustGiving Page to send more supplies to war-torn Ukraine.
"This year marks 20 years since my parents and I came to the UK as refugees," she said.
"The rest of my family are all still in Ukraine. It is a worrying time and we fear for their lives every day.
"Friends there have called us and said there's a massive shortage of medical supplies and having links to the medical school we set up this initiative. We are focusing on the list of urgently requested items from the Ukrainian Embassy and the Ukrainian Medical Association of the UK.
"We are also raising much-needed funds to support the procurement of this lifesaving first aid and trauma relief medical supplies through our JustGiving page and through student and volunteer-led fundraisers across Newcastle. We want to help as many people as possible, including the doctors and nurses on the ground who need these supplies.
"Ukraine is a nation of very brave people who love their country."
Olga thanked Professor Gráinne Gorman, director of the Welcome Centre for Mitochondrial Research for his help with the initiative.
"Thank you to all the wonderful students and colleagues who have volunteered and supported the campaign," she added.
"And a big thanks to the members of the Medical School who kindly donated the items, led by Professor Steve Jones."
To donate to the JustGiving Page visit: https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/first-aid-ukraine
