A brave father and daughter have successfully completed a ‘scary’ humanitarian aid mission with a friend into war-torn Ukraine delivering a much-needed 4×4 pick-up truck and supplies.

Liberal Democrat Derbyshire County Cllr Tom Snowdon, who is also a Chesterfield Borough Councillor, his daughter Kate Snowdon and friend Phil Billingham drove and delivered the pickup to Lviv, in Western Ukraine, as Drive 2 Save Lives volunteers and co-drivers before flying home via Poland.

The mission during the ongoing Russian and Ukrainian conflict was made possible thanks to much-appreciated donations during a fundraising page campaign to help raise around £5,000 to cover the cost of the Nissan pickup truck.

Cllr Snowdon said: “It was a moving experience to meet people living in Lviv, and I have nothing but admiration for the Ukrainian people.

Derbyshire County Cllr Tom Snowdon And Daughter Kate Snowdon During Their Humanitarian Aid Mission To The Ukraine. Courtesy Of Kate Snowdon.

placeholder image — Derbyshire County Cllr Tom Snowdon And Daughter Kate Snowdon During Their Humanitarian Aid Mission To The Ukraine. Courtesy Of Kate Snowdon.

“It was scary downloading the Government’s air raid warning app on our phones, but we were lucky that there were no attacks on Lviv while we were there. Since leaving, the app has activated warnings several times.”

The trio crossed the English Channel on October 11 and drove to Belgium and onto Dresden, in Germany before they crossed into Jaroslaw, in Poland, on the border with Ukraine.

Cllr Snowdon explained that by the fourth day of their mission the three intrepid adventurers crossed the Polish border and eventually entered Ukraine.

The vehicle was left in Ukraine so it can be used for humanitarian purposes to save lives during the Russian and Ukrainian conflict including transporting much-needed supplies and for carrying injured people to hospitals.

Phil Billingham, Left, With Kate Snowdon And Derbyshire County Cllr Tom Snowdon During Their Humanitarian Aid Mission To Ukraine. Courtesy Of Kate Snowdon.

CllrSnowdon added: “While we were inLviv we visited the Field of Mars where the military cemetery is, and had a look around the centre of the city.

“It was a moving experience to meet people living inLviv, and I have nothing but admiration for the Ukrainian people.”

The trio stayed in Ukraine for just over 24 hours before crossing back into Poland andfly backing to Manchester, on Saturday, October 17.

Co-driver and friend Phil Billingham has made several trips to Ukraine with aid alongside his wife. Not-for-profit organisation Drive 2 Save Lives which connects people who donate vehicles with volunteers who then drive them to Ukraine for aid-transport.

Derbyshire County And Chesterfield Borough Cllr Tom Snowdon With His Daughter Kate Snowdon At The Top Of Mount Snowdon. Courtesy Of Cllr Snowdon.

The trio paid for all their travel expenses, fuel and insurance costs and the donations were used solely to buy the pickup and fill it with supplies and medical aid to be distributed for people in Ukraine.

They worked with local Internal Displaced Persons centres to get the aid to those most in need, and to support those wishing to staying in Ukraine so they can remain close to family and friends during the conflict.

Drive 2 Save Lives provided support in sourcing insurance and completing all of the other paperwork needed for the mission to drive and donate thepickup truck to Ukraine so it can be used for humanitarian purposes.