From Tenterden to Ukraine

Sometimes an old vehicle still has one very important journey left to make. When Tenterden Rotarian Gardner Crawley replaced his 18-year-old Isuzu pick-up, he could simply have traded it in. 

Instead, knowing of fellow Tenterden Rotarian Oksana Romanukha’s work supporting Ukraine, he decided to donate it. Despite having 200,000 miles on the clock, the Isuzu was still going strong – and was about to embark on an extraordinary new adventure. With arrangements made through Ukrainian charity Memory Way, drivers Elliot Pocklington and Andrew Chapman took on the challenge of getting the Isuzu pick up from Kent to Ukraine. And what a journey it was!

- Tenterden
- Through the Channel Tunnel
- Across Germany
- Through Poland
- Across the Ukrainian border
- And finally to Lviv

After around 1,200 miles, very little sleep and, according to Elliot, plenty of caffeine, the Isuzu finally arrived in Lviv, where it was handed over to begin its new life supporting humanitarian work. And there was a lovely coincidence – it arrived in time for Oksana’s birthday. Her reaction? “Best. Birthday. Present. Ever. Some people get flowers. Some get cake. I got a pickup truck delivered to Lviv. Not for me – but for people who need it most.”

What could have been the end of the road for an 18-year-old Isuzu has instead become the beginning of an important new chapter.

A huge thank you to Rotarian Gardner Crawley for his incredibly generous donation, to Elliot and Andrew for driving the Isuzu all the way to Ukraine, and to everyone at Memory Way and the Rotary Club of Tenterden who helped make it happen. One donated truck. 1,200 miles. And a wonderful example of generosity being turned into practical help. 

Thank you to everyone who continues to stand with Ukraine. Every act of generosity, no matter how big or small, helps keep hope moving forward. This Isuzu pickup truck is donated for humanitarian purposes in Ukraine, in honour of Oksana Romanukha. Vice President of Rotary Club of Tenterden.

With best wishes for a useful life, from Co-Presidents Emma MacLennan and Oliver Settle and the Rotarians of Rotary Club of Tenterden.