Herefordshire company buys ambulance to support Ukraine

R.J Barrington Ltd, from Leominster, has spent the last couple of months making and selling sunflowers to raise funds for an ambulance to take essentials to people who need it.

Company employee Maksym Panchenko's family are living in Ukraine and he needed his colleague's help to support his family and his country.

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Sharon Stevens from R J Barrington Ltd said: "Through Maksym and his family, we have first-hand knowledge of the troubles that the people of the Ukraine have been facing, and thought we had to do something to help."

Young apprentice Josh Mccoll came up with the idea of making the sunflowers when his friend needed help.

He was supported by the team and they have so far been able to make and sell over 300 sunflowers allowing us as a company to support Maksym in purchasing an ambulance which will be filled with essentials and driven out to the Ukraine.

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Mrs Stevens said: "It was a lovely idea from Josh and we ran with it.

"We never thought it would be so popular, but the people of Herefordshire have responded brilliantly allowing us to buy this ambulance."

A spokesperson for R J Barrington Ltd have said: "Thank you to everyone who has already purchased a sunflower.

"We still have plenty available to buy and will continue making them for as long we can keep selling them, let’s help make a difference."