Page 33 - Chiron Calling Autumn/Winter 2022

over specialist medical supplies to them, just as with the military hospital earlier the same day and other clinics on other days.
I’m writing this on the long train journey across Ukraine from Kyiv to Lviv, which has our forward storage base for the medical supplies. Tomorrow I’ll return to Krakow
in Poland where I have our main storage (a former storeroom for Tesco’s which we have rented for a knock-down price since the Poles are generally very happy to support Ukrainians in any way they can). The train journey is a time to think of what else I can do to support Ukrainians. In addition to supplying the equipment, our foundation has also put some of its own reserves (a six-figure sum) whilst also getting a similar sum from affiliated societies into buying things such as drugs that cannot readily be donated by industry. We are also offering free membership and attendance at conferences for Ukrainian surgeons. One other thing that occurred to me is providing travel and subsistence to Ukrainian surgeons to be attached to eye trauma centres across Europe – this would be especially useful
for female trainees. More senior surgeons probably cannot leave
their posts for the time-being as, unfortunately, there is just too much work for them and also it would only be for female surgeons since working age males are not allowed to leave Ukraine. As a male, I had to show
my passport just to get on the train heading west even though I do not look particularly Ukrainian and, at my age, I doubt I’d be much use to the Ukrainian Army! We’ll also set up a network of consultants worldwide who can give advice to Ukrainian surgeons – it could be useful if they want to discuss particular cases although, even with the experience of Iraq and Afghanistan, there
will not be many eye surgeons worldwide who have as much trauma experience as the Ukrainians now have. But anything that can save a few more people from being blind is a worthwhile effort.
The final general thing I’d say is that helping with charitable work after a career in the Army is quite a
natural step and, if you are thinking of leaving or retiring, one that you should maybe consider. It is a good feeling to continue serving in one way or another and Army training, very much including experience
in the RAVC, can be invaluable. The main caveat is that if you only decide to work in the charitable sector because it is job and don’t have any real feeling for it, then you won’t be much good at it and will probably just be a liability (I’ve seen a few ex-officers and senior NCOs who fell into that category!). I find it especially fulfilling to
be helping Ukrainian soldiers
as well as Ukrainian civilians at
this particular time. They are an admirable people, fighting with great courage and determination
to defend their country against a vicious and unprincipled aggressor with the world’s second largest army. They don’t complain and most have an excellent sense of humour. They really like Brits, not least because
we have trained thousands of their soldiers over the last few years and supplied them with NLAWs (which have proved very effective against Russian armour). For all these reasons they are well worth supporting!
Help is
desperately
Tneeded for horses in Ukraine
here are more than 100,000 horses in Ukraine, many of the horses are caught up in the war, with no possibility to flee and seek safety, with no shelter and care.
Horse owners, riding schools, athletes, breeders, and professionals are in desperate conditions without any resources of saving their horses. Owners with horses trapped in Ukraine are in crisis. Finding sparse feed in war zones, comforting beloved horses during deadly raids, and trying to evacuate between attacks are almost unimaginable tasks, but they happen many times a day in Ukraine. Having money in hand for urgent needs can make the difference between life and death.
AWAMO – Australian Animal Aid have donated funding to assist Elaine Nash and her Equine charity Fleet of Angles. This is a trusted, award-winning 501(c)3 US-based non-profit that already has a set up in place that helps Ukrainian equines in crisis. They work directly with qualified owners, providing funds for feed and supplies for horses most at risk during this horrific war.
Give them your support: https://www.fleetofangels.org/
Bespoke manufacturers 01653 697096 info@cabtransitboxes.co.uk www.cabtransitboxes.co.uk
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