A woman who took part in a convoy delivering aid to Ukraine said it was the “most emotional” thing she had ever done and hoped to repeat it one day.
Kayleigh Jones, from Wem, said she decided to start a relationship with her partner Josh Katihrob because his family was originally from Ukraine.
They raised money to buy a truck and supplies and then joined others from the Convoy 4 Ukraine group.
She said it took five days to bring the aid to the Lviv area and said that when they got there, they heard “incredible” stories about daily life from the people living there.
The couple left Britain on September 16 and have just returned after leaving their vehicle with the Ukrainians.
Mr Katihrob’s family fled Ukraine during the Second World War and Ms Jones said: “We always wanted to give something back.”
The pair bought a truck from a man in Shrewsbury and collected tinned food, wheelchairs, walking sticks and useful everyday items such as wet wipes and nappies.
She said they spent up to 15 hours a day traveling through Europe.
When they reached their destination, she said the first thing she noticed was that “every single person working on the border was a woman,” because all the men were fighting.
She said it was “a bit of a reality check” for her, but that it was “just the norm for them”.
As they provided aid, she said people there showed photos and talked about their daily lives.
Ms. Jones said a woman told her her 11-year-old son screamed every time a rocket flew over.
The family had to hide in a bomb shelter, but she said: “She said her son doesn’t quite understand and gets all excited about the rockets.
“It’s everyday life for them, it’s just normal and that’s just incredible.”
After leaving eight trucks in Ukraine, the Convoy 4 Ukraine group began the long journey home, but Ms Jones said it would not be her last journey.
“It’s in my heart now,” she said.
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