A businessman has put plans to open a bar on hold so he can help refugees flee war-ravaged Ukraine. Brian Phillips wants to help ferry those in desperate need from the west of the country to the Polish border several times every day.
Trained chef Brian Phillips and friend Simon Robinson, from Bristol, have secured a minibus to help transport refugees from Lviv - the largest city in western Ukraine and the sixth-largest city in the country - to safety on the Polish border.
The vehicle will also be used to take donations to help those affected by the devastating situation in Ukraine. An online fundraiser to help the duo with the selfless mission has so far raised more than £3,000, and has a target of £5,000, DevonLive reports.
But the opening of Brian's new Cocktail Bomba bar inside Exeter Quay is being put on hold while her takes on his mercy mission. Speaking from Poland, he said: "I’ve put the opening of the new restaurant and cocktail bar on hold for a few weeks after seeing the Ukrainian people's plight and felt I had to do something.
"We are in the process of hopefully driving to Lviv with a minibus to start driving people to safety in Poland. We have two hours until we reach the border and plan to stay here until the fuel donations run out. My wife and three children are worried but they are all very supportive for me to help people and I’m in touch as much as possible with them. Obviously, I miss them loads."
Brian says they are intending to do four to five trips a day. "The distance from Lviv to the Polish border is 60 kilometres (40 miles), therefore we will need as much help as possible with the cost of fuel," he said.
"We have been lucky enough to secure a minibus to help transport refugees as well as desperately needed supplies donated by the Help From Bournemouth to Ukraine Charity, to the Polish border. We are raising money to make as many trips as we can and fuel money is essential in order to get these poor people to safety.
"If we raise more money than we need we will donate all money raised to Action Aid." To make a donation to the fundraiser please click here.
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