A selfless chef battling cancer is set to travel to the Ukrainian border to help feed refugees fleeing the war.
Mark Gibbons, from Dunston in Gateshead, is making plans to travel to Ukraine's border with Poland to cook at a refugee camp for those escaping Russia's invasion. The 46-year-old worked as a chef for nearly 20 years until he was diagnosed with stage 3 follicular lymphoma around three years ago.
Mark, who also has emphysema and a degenerative disease in his spine, needs daily medication to manage his condition. But despite his health battle, the caring chef said he felt compelled to help the people of Ukraine after seeing the devastation caused by the war.
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"The whole situation in Ukraine has really affected me, like a lot of other people, to the point that I applied for a fast-track passport and have made plans to travel across and help out," he said. "It's absolutely heartbreaking.
"I have no problem going to a refugee camp and cooking for people, I feel it is the least I can do. That's how I'm wired, I think I care more about others than I do myself.
"I have got cancer but if I can do something for somebody else then that's me happy."
The dad-of-three says he will drive to a refugee camp with one of the charitable groups transporting aid to the people of Ukraine. He plans to leave as soon as possible, however has no idea when he will come back, saying it depends on how much medication he is able to bring with him.
The trip will be the first time Mark has left the county in 18 years but he's no stranger to supporting others closer to home. During the pandemic, he set up a community group called Dunston Help For Families, which supports people in the area with donations of food and also holds a youth club and a cafe.
Although his latest venture has drawn concern from his family and friends, Mark says he has no fears about travelling towards the conflict to help.
"A lot of people have said I'm crazy for going over but I can't not go, it's how I'm wired," he said. "I know if I didn't go and do my bit to help, I would regret it for the rest of however long I have left in this world.
"I'm expecting it to be quite humbling."
