Dundee United has pledged to support a selfless employee who is helping Ukraine refugees.
The club is donating proceeds from this Saturday’s 50:50 draw at the city derby with Dundee FC to worker Ricardo Cerdan.
DUFC's International Business Manager, Ricardo, recently travelled to a camp near the village of Medyka on the Poland-Ukraine border with over £2,000 of United-branded outerwear and blankets to hand out to those escaping the violence.
Together with other volunteers, the 45-year-old also made the journey into the western Ukraine city of Lviv to help refugees get away from Russian oppression.
The Dundee United Development Association (DUDA) normally give money made from the draw to United’s Academy.
But this weekend’s collection will go to help support Ricardo instead.
Colin Stewart, DUDA Chairperson, said: “We encourage all supporters of both our city’s teams to support this initiative as this is an opportunity to provide financial assistance to help support the young people of Ukraine who are living in desperate and dangerous conditions.”
Last month Dundee Live told how Ricardo intends to go deeper into the country to ferry orphans out of artillery-struck areas to safety - with a bus named after Deacon Blue hit Dignity.
Frontman Ricky Ross - an honorary club patron - has given him the band's blessing.
Dundee United said it will contribute £5,000 towards a fundraising campaign Ricardo's colleagues have established in support of his mission - and club chairman Mark Ogren has personally pledged £10,000 of his own cash.
Speaking to the Record, Ricardo - originally from Barcelona - said he wanted to protect children from potential exploitation by criminal gangs who are using the Russian invasion to engage in human trafficking.
He said: "I have no relationship to Ukraine whatsoever - but my friend is married to a Ukrainian woman who was stuck with her two kids.
"I knew some ex-army guys who were able to help and after that decided I wanted to help get people out too.
"I went with 70kg of winter coats, blankets and footballs from the club.
"I was giving out chocolates to the kids, 20kg of them, gone in 10 minutes.
"The image of giving them footballs and chocolate - that's why I'm going for as long as I can.
"I want to go to the orphanages, and get the women and kids to somewhere they will be safe from bad people - from human traffickers, from paedophiles."
After coming back from his first visit, Ricardo concluded that he could do more - and began speaking to colleagues at Tannadice about raising cash for transport, food and medical supplies on a return trip.
He intends to buy the Dignity bus closer to Ukraine, along with a minivan to transport people and supplies.
A London paramedic he befriended on the border, Adam Wiles, is helping to coordinate support on the ground.
As he is planning to stay for up to two weeks, Ricardo is also working with London businessman Toba Abiodun to arrange transport for African students trapped in other parts of the country.
In a statement of support for Ricardo, Dundee United FC said: "His actions have touched the heart of everyone at Tannadice and as he looks to raise funds for the rescue plan, he has set up a GoFundMe page where people can assist with the fundraising.
"The Club, as well as offering yet more clothing provisions, have donated £5,000 to the cause."
Ricardo hopes that other Scottish football teams will team up with United to help the fundraiser reach its hugely ambitious goal. He says a number of players have pledged to donate to the cause.
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