A grandma has made it her mission to get drivers and vehicles to the borders of Slovakia and Hungary to deliver aid to those in Ukraine.

Denise Carter-Evans, who spends time between Minster and Gillingham, has collected many donations for the country’s refugees - however she is now looking for people and their vehicles to join a convoy in April.

The 67-year-old, a grandmother-of-16, said: “We are so thankful to have so many sleeping bags, clothes, food and toiletries donated by very generous people.

“But now we have to send them to the borders and into Ukraine so we are in need of people and vehicles to drive the supplies out in convoy next month.”

Denise, who has worked at Medway Maritime NHS Trust for 27 years, doesn’t represent a specific organisation but has offered aid to countries in need in the past.

She said: “Having driven in convoys to Croatia, Romania and organised and led convoys to Morocco, I gained the skills and experience to organise a supportive team to help get the aid to where it is needed.

“We only have two vehicles going to Slovakia in April at the moment and we need help with fuel costs and assistance with ferry crossings.”

Before the pandemic, Denise project managed and led a convoy of four vehicles to the High Atlas in Morocco.

She took much-needed supplies and drove out by herself on three occasions to liaise with locals and drop off resources.

Denise began helping the citizens of Ukraine four days after the war commenced as she felt there was a dire need for assistance and she had the skills and contacts to help.

The mum-of-five works with a team made up of Ukraine professionals, a Sky TV co-respondent, an executive manager of UK health organisations, registered nurses, project managers and analysts, prison officers, photojournalists and many other volunteers.

She said: “It’s our duty to ensure safety for the vulnerable.

One of Denise’s colleagues has recently returned from Kyiv after having taken an ambulance fully laden with aid.

He left the ambulance in Ukraine for the military to transport people to safety - Denise and her team prefer vehicles such as ambulances or adapted vehicles as there are sick and disabled people who are unable to sit in a seat.

However, despite the kind help of Denise’s colleagues she wouldn’t be able to offer her help without her family.

She said: “Two of my grandsons who are on the Autistic Spectrum Disorder help me by their own assistance.

“The elder of the two does not like it to be known that he helps, he is there to sort, box, weigh and label the cartons of aid.

“His younger brother has been working on quality control helping his Mum, my daughter Charlienne, who has made first-aid pouches to donate.

“I want to say my sincere thanks to my dear friends Maureen Baber, Karen Lowrie, Betty Oldmeadow and their families for their continued support over the years

“And of course my five children and their families for their constant support and whom, without them, nothing would have happened.

“And my dear Mum, sick in hospital whose garage I always commandeer.”

The aid Denise is hoping to deliver to Ukraine will help displaced people on the borders. Some will also be taken by the military into the war zone to those who are trapped.

To help, email Denise at deancaev@yahoo.co.uk.