BELARUS TRIP OCTOBER 2007
Bodmin Rotarins deliver aid to Belarus by Martin Taylor
Two Bodmin Rotarians have just returned from a ten-day humanitarian mission to Belarus . Club President Martin Taylor and local Rotarian Mike Wheeler were enlisted as convoy drivers by the national charity ‘Heart, Hope and Help' an organisation that targets aid to health projects in areas affected by radiation from the Chernobyl nuclear power plant disaster in 1986. Mike and Martin were accompanied by Rotarian Paul Gale from the Plymouth Mayflower club.
In total a convoy of six 7.5 tonne trucks were driven across Europe leaving via Poland to Belarus and the aid was delivered directly to a number of local charities that receive no government support. The other volunteer drivers were mostly fellow Rotarians form places as far away as Cardiff and Newcastle . Drivers were required to sleep rough in the back of the trucks on the journey. During the 3000 mile return trip the convoy only suffered one breakdown when a fan belt snapped on the autobahn near Dortmund in Germany delaying their return home.
Mike and Martin successfully delivered their cargo of medical equipment, clothing and toys to the ‘Autograph Project' in Minsk which cares for young victims of thyroid cancer and their families. Mike who is also a member of ‘Heart, Hope and Help', said, “The only way these small charity groups can survive is with international aid, which we make sure they get by delivering it right to their door”.
Problems were encountered with Belarus customs and they were made to wait nearly two days at the Minsk customs office for the release of the goods whilst the right papers were completed. Martin said, “You'd think that the Belarusian government were deliberately trying to obstruct the aid getting through but we persevered and were rewarded by the gratitude of those in desperate need. The local charity groups helped immensely by providing translators at the various customs offices as neither of us speak much Russian”.
This was Mike's second trip to Belarus but his first time in Minsk . Bodmin Rotary Club is already looking to commence its own project in Belarus and Mike said, “There is a hospital in rural Belarus that desperately needs a four wheel drive ambulance but we have so far been unsuccessful in obtaining the right vehicle. More details of the project will be announced in the near future and we hope to get good support from the Bodmin area”.
17/10/07 - 2130
They are currently at Clackett Lane Services after a day of running around. An early start from Bodmin to Newport to collect a new passport in Gwent and the lorry. The trio then drove to the Belarussian Embassy in London and collected Mike's visa before heading for the services.
18/10/07
Nothing to report today, an email has been received asking if someone can collect them from somewhere on the M4 when they arrive home - we'll think about it! With no other information I assume it is going well, no news is good news .....
20/10/07 - 1330 approx
Had a text today, they are in Minsk and have booked into a hotel. i think the Bodmin crew are sharing a room and were having a shower for the first time in three days!! (Three in a lory cab must have been pleasant!!) Next priority I believe was to work out if they could watch the rugby anywhere...Exciting stuff so far eh?
21/10/07
Received a couple of photos today - Martin & Mike in Minsk I'm not sure if the hats are compulsory...
I don't know where everyone is in the second photo
22/10/07
Email from Martin. Things are obviously not going quite as easy as hoped. Apparently they spent from 0900 to 2000 today waiting at Customs to get the vehicles cleared. So far three of the six vehicles are through so they are going back to the Customs office tomorrow to try again.
24/10/07
A couple of photos today and some emails. They have started their journey home having finally delivered all the goods to where they are expected. The opinion is that obstacles are deliberately put in the way of those taking aid into the country. No doubt Martin will add some fine detail to this on his return, but in the mean time a couple of photo's.....
The final nights accomodation in Belarus
The Customs Office a building they became very used to!!!
27/10/07
Well they are back a few photos below, basically all delivered. A few issues on the way back I think judging by the number of changed plans for returning to Bodmin that I received - full story on that later maybe ???
Mike Wheeler at the wheel, I thought he was blonde
They've eaten it all!!!
Unloading in Belarus