A grandad battling cancer is on his way to Poland to deliver vital humanitarian aid to Ukrainian refugees - inspired by his seven-year-old granddaughter with a 'heart of gold'.
Ian Andrews, 68, set off with his son Chris, 36, from Heywood in the early hours of this morniing with a van loaded with food, sanitary products, toiletries, toys and water. Ian, a retired black cab driver, reckons the journey to Medyka, on the Poland-Ukraine border will take four days.
"We'll be sleeping in the van, but we will get there," said Ian, of Clitheroe Close. He explained that Chris' daughter, Summer, had been deeply affected by the images on the news of the unfolding humanitarian catastrophe in Ukraine."
On one of the boxes of toys, Summer has written: "To Ukraine with love. God bless you xxxxxx." Ian added: "She set up a Just Giving page for donations and only expected a couple of hundred quid," he continued. "But it's now reached nearly £1,000 and growing. "Summer has been really affected by the Ukraine war. She's got a heart of gold."
Ian and Chris, who has launched his own courier business recently are travelling to Harwich to catch the ferry to the Hook of Holland and will drive through the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany before reaching Poland.
Ian, who is in remission from bowel and liver cancer, said he had no qualms about making the trip. "We decided we couldn't just sit here and do nothing, and Summer is really pleased we are making the trip."
Meanwhile, Ian's wife Valerie and Chris' wife Leanda are also fully behind the trip, he said.
