The Travel Corporation’s Treadright Foundation has donated $5,000 to a fundraiser set up by an Insight Vacations tour guide to help Ukrainians fleeing the war in their homeland.
Poland-based tour guide Tim Pendlebury set up his appeal to support a Polish charity as the war broke out and he drove to the border with Ukraine to help bring refugees to safety.
His fundraiser had already reached almost £11,000 before the Treadright donation, and he is continuing to ferry supplies to the border and pick up refugees who are escaping the conflict.
He is updating his family, friends, colleagues and former guests via social media, with pictures of his missions and videos about the situation at the border.
A Ukrainian mum, Katya, and her children aged 13, eight and eight months, are staying with him and his family (pictured) at his home in the small village of Gilowice, near the border with Slovakia.
“After almost three weeks here with us, our Ukrainian is improving, and Katya continues to treat us to amazing Ukrainian dishes,” he said.
“My pre-work season diet is out the window…we had a pizza evening with the Ukrainian guests in the village.”
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A Prague-based colleague from sister brand Trafalgar travelled to Tim’s home and together they delivered thousands of dollars worth of medicines and medical equipment.
They then collected seven Ukrainians from the border refugee reception centre, who were then taken onwards to the Czech capital.
Another colleague is hoping to organaise a trip to help Ukrainian families being settled with families in the United Kingdom.
He returns to work in April, guiding the Country Roads of Southern Italy & Sicily then Highlights of Spain and the Romantic European tour in May, which will visit 11 countries.
Tim posted “a massive shout-out” in thanks to the TreadRight Foundation, and the “tremendous support” from The Travel Corporation brands.
One brand, Contiki, sent a coach to the Polish-Ukraine border to collect refugees to transfer to Holland on behalf of a local Dutch charity. They were then assisted in being rehoused.
Its staff are also speaking to a French council where the Contiki château is located to nominate themselves as possible hosts if needed.
TTC’s river cruise brand, Uniworld, placed a job add on LinkedIn offering jobs for refugees with the appropriate status and skills.
Furthermore, one of its captains is from the Ukraine and is being accommodated onboard as ship as he cannot return home.
Uniworld is also compiling lists of what supplies are needed as guests have enquired if they could bring essentials to their cruise.
Local partners in Bulgaria and Romania can collect items from the ships and deliver to appropriate local charities.
• Other projects being awarded with the 2022 Tread the Pledge Fund are:
The Sam West Foundation – promoting awareness, diagnosis and treatment of mental health issues affecting children, young adults, and their families in the UK.
The Smiley Reilly Project – raising awareness and providing support to bereaved families who have lost a child in Australia.
Orangutan Foundation International Australia (OFIA) – dedicated to the conservation of orangutans and their natural habitat in Indonesian Borneo.
Chosen Organisation – supporting children in impoverished communities through meal and youth development programmes in South Africa.
Expand the Canon – advocating for representation in theatre through a curated list of classic plays by women and underrepresented genders, in the US.
Pictured from left: Dimitri (13) holding his sister Maria (eight months), by Katya, with her other son Mark in front of her. Tim is on the right with his wife Sabina, and their son Maks (red jacket) and daughter Matylda is in front.