AA patrol leader Gary Holian showed his true colours recently when he volunteered to support an aid convoy delivering urgent aid to the Poland-Ukraine border.

AA patrol leader Gary Holian left for Poland on 25 March as part of a team of nine volunteer drivers and five vehicles in an aid convoy

Holian, along with his wife Nadia, are part of a team who help to arrange support for those affected by the war in Ukraine. The team, based at the Ukrainian Centre in Ashton Under Lyne, Manchester, sent their first shipment of 500 boxes containing much-needed aid to the border last month.

After hearing that a second aid convoy was leaving for the border in four days’ time, Holian immediately volunteered to join the convoy and left for Poland on 25 March as part of a team of nine volunteer drivers and five vehicles. The plan was to drive the laden vehicles from Preston through to Dover, then onto Calais, Belgium, Germany and finally to the Polish border where the vehicles would be handed over to a team of Ukrainian colleagues.

But, as the cohort approached Krakow, Poland, two of the vehicles developed engine trouble and couldn’t be repaired at the roadside.

Knowing that the AA were already supporting the Ukraine support effort, Holian contacted the group’s European Breakdown headquarters in Lyon, France and European breakdown co-ordinator Naty Boisson sent help.

Holian said: “When we broke down, it felt like a case of ‘so near, yet so far’ but after just one call to the AA team in Lyon, with a brief explanation of our situation it was all hands to the pumps! Naty made all the necessary arrangements, and we were quickly recovered to safety.

“The aid parcels were transferred from the broken-down vehicles to the remaining vehicles for onward travel to Medyka, Poland. We later received word that the aid we had sent was successfully delivered across the border and directly to the people of Ukraine. Hearing this news made our flight home much more comfortable.”

The AA is providing a number of measures to support the Ukrainian people, including donating to the Ukraine Crisis Appeal and is matching staff donations.

Edmund King, AA president, said: “We have all seen the terrible news coming daily out of Ukraine. Sometimes we feel helpless and just really want to help just as Gary and his team have done. At the AA we are keen to do what we can to support Ukrainians.

“Like many others, we are devastated at what has been happening in Ukraine.  We are now offering job opportunities as well as providing free storage space, signage and European breakdown cover to support refugee donations.

“For Ukrainian refugees in the UK, the AA Charitable Trust is offering free Drive Confident refresher courses via AA Driving School and BSM to improve their confidence and brush up on forgotten skills, as well as helping them adjust to driving on the other side of the road.

“The course will also cover road markings, signs, roundabouts and can be tailored to the needs of the individual. We hope the course will help Ukrainians in some small way to adjust to life in the UK.”