Thank you Crickhowell Rotary Club

Saturday 5 March dawned clear and sunny in Crickhowell, like the first day of spring.

It was not so bright in Ukraine, where the cold, gloomy, wintry skies matched the conditions on the ground as the population continued their desperate sheltering and flight from the deadly war. The women and children are being urged by their menfolk to flee. What they carry slows them down.The few possessions they have are the bare minimum. What they really need is enough money to meet their immediate needs and no more – life and limb are their absolute priority.

The international Disasters Emergency Committee put out a call for this most urgent and useful aid – money.

The Rotary Club of Crickhowell put in motion their own early and local response by organising a street collection in town on Saturday.

The people of Crickhowell, plus many visitors and walking enthusiasts here for next week’s Walking Festival, responded magnificently. In the space of a few short hours over £2,150 was raised for the Disasters Emergency Committee, which will go out for immediate distribution to the devastated families.

The Rotary Club has added more funds to make up the donated sum to £3,000.

Club President David Thomas expressed his mixed emotions, of concern for the plight of the Ukrainian families, together with pride and gratitude for the generous, thoughtful and valuable contributions from everyone his team encountered on Saturday.

Saturday’s very positive experience relieved some of the frustrations, knowing we were able to make a contribution to address the suffering. The smiles of the Crickhowell Rotary team tell a story of achievement, relief, and hope in hard times.