When the Royal Victoria Yacht Club said let’s organise a fund-raising event for Ukraine a few weeks ago, they had no idea how it would turn out. The evening, held last month, showed RVYC at its best with an event which blew everyone out of the water.
Vice-Commodore, Helen Vrba, said,
“One of our members contacted Daniel Williams for advice on how best to fundraise, what to raise money for and how to ensure it got to the right people, in the right place, at the right time.
“Daniel had a great knowledge base and was very helpful to us in deciding how we could best support the humanitarian relief effort.”
Perilous journey across Ukraine
For those who don’t know Daniel (who grew up in Wootton), you may have followed his video diaries on TV as he, Tania and baby Sophia endeavoured to leave their home and make the perilous journey across Ukraine, from Kyiv and then across the border into Poland.
Since making it back to the Island, Dan has also made trips back to Eastern Europe with aid relief.
Ukraine-themed meal
A delicious Ukraine-themed meal (including Chicken Kyiv!), was followed by an auction, presided over by RVYC member, Howard Knowles, who encouraged sometimes slightly reluctant bidding – although there was no reluctance to bid for the Isle of Wight Distillery items!
The auction was followed by the raffle draw.
Vrba: Such generosity was quite humbling
Helen continued,
“We were hugely grateful for all the prizes and items donated both for the auction and raffle, particularly Mermaid Gin, Wightlink, Harold George and Harwoods Garage.
“Such generosity was quite humbling – the situation in Ukraine has certainly touched people’s hearts in a way not seen for a long time.”
More than £4,000 raised
The total raised from the evening was over £3,000! Way, way above what the club had hoped for.
This sum has now risen to over £4,000, thanks to members’ donations and the proceeds from the club’s Easter duck race.
Eloquent and emotional speeches
Dan and his wife, Tania, spoke at the end of the evening and said how stunned and touched they were at the amount raised.
Their words were eloquent and emotional and were a reminder (if we needed one), of the reason we were all there.
Desperate need for ambulances
Daniel explained that he had spoken to the Minister of Health in Ukrainian who advised ambulances were desperately needed.
As so much money had been raised, Dan felt it should go towards a specific item and it was unanimously agreed by everyone present, that the monies raised should be pooled with another charity who Daniel works closely with (SOMA UK), rather than sending to an international charity.
Ambulance for children’s hospital
A quality used ambulance is being purchased and kitted out with medical supplies and will be used at a children’s hospital in Kyiv.
On the side of the ambulance will be signage explaining where the money was raised, along with the RVYC branding, making a lasting legacy for the club and cementing the Isle of Wight’s and RVYC’s ties with Ukraine. Regular updates will be received from the people in Kyiv so we can see the ambulance in situ.
Helen concluded,
“I’d like to thank all the wonderful RVYC members (and their guests), who supported the event, both with time and money. A great example of how wonderful our club and its members are.”
News shared by Helen on behalf of RVYC House Committee. Ed
Photo attached shows RVYC House Committee members Lindsey Hood and Andrea Sheridan, with Helen Vrba, Daniel Williams and Diana Bedford, Rear-Commodore House.
