TAMESIDE may be more than 1,000 miles from Ukraine – but it has a place close to the community’s hearts.
And several people are taking what has been donated to the relief effort after Russia’s invasion right to where it is needed.
Emma Jones, Craig Perry and Lee Woods, of Ashton-based Perry Jones Funeral Services embarked on a 1,400-mile journey to the border between Poland and the war torn country to personally deliver donations.
And a lorry load of items collected by the Ukrainian Centre on Stockport Road in Ashton, which received so much it could not accept any more, went even further.
Not just going to the border, that went all the way to the city of Lviv on Sunday, March 20 after getting permission to enter.
Almost immediately the area leapt into action after distressing scenes from the Ukraine emerged.
Nowhere were they felt more than the Ukrainian Centre, where members have family caught up in the war.
Petro Rewko, National Chairman of the Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain, said: “It becomes emotional because the sincerity and the giving of the British people is unbelievable.
“We have been inundated with offers of help. Not just physical donations or funds but offering to provide homes for people if refugees come over, offering to transport items across as well.”
Local councillors also led the effort, with Denton’s Denise Ward and Vincent Ricci setting up a donation station at Denton Youth FC’s headquarters.
Cllr Ward said: “What’s been going on is horrendous.
“We went to the Ukrainian Centre in Ashton, who we’ve done a lot with before, so we had to act for them.
“The aim of the scheme was to do a shoebox, we got in touch with schools in the area to put some together and add a note saying, ‘I’m sending this to you.’
“We had to organise an effort then pass them on to the centre. Imagine going out to work and going about your business, only to come home and find your house has been bombed and nothing is there. How desperate is that?
“I couldn’t get my head around it. We’d just had two years of lockdown because of Covid-19, we just get back to something like a normal life and then this happens. How bad’s that?
“Kids here have been frightened.”
In Dukinfield, Cllr Jackie Lane set up a similar donation scheme, based at the town’s Together Centre and including Cosmo Bingo in Stalybridge.
Her reason for doing it is personal after her experiences of the Ukrainian Centre and its community.
She said: “It’s going well, people have been very generous, especially as times are hard.
“We’ve put a stop on receiving clothes but we still collect things like toiletries and medications then hand it to the Ukrainian Centre.
“I remember the Ukrainian Centre from when I was a child, from when I was about five to 10 years old as my mother saw someone who went there.
“It’s a lovely community and you don’t forget when people are kind to you.”
Mossley’s Foodbank did its part, with the town’s school children adding messages and cards showing their support for those going through the trauma.
And the Infinity Tameside and Community Café is backing a fleeing family, with a call for donations being answered.
A charity football match at Stalybridge Celtic’s Bower Fold ground on Saturday, March 19, between coaches and parents of Stalybridge Celtic Juniors, saw all proceeds go to Save the Children to support families caught up in the terrible scenes.
Match organiser and Celtic Juniors volunteer coach Mark Nolan said: “Seeing such harrowing scenes unfold in Ukraine and watching families forced to flee their homes, even children being split up from their parents in order to escape, we couldn’t turn the other way.
“I’m a junior coach and imagining my players going through anything like this is heartbreaking.”