Long Days, Short Nights on the Road Sleep was rare—our standard modus operandi on missions across Ukraine. Exhaustion became a constant companion, with far more hours behind the wheel than in bed. Brothers Chris and Mark Standley are somewhere in Europe! Team spirit inside the Fire Truck, Chris, Mark and Ryan Simon and Sophoia, ready to roll out for...
Setting Off Once More Defying sleep, dodging Russian bombardment, and relying on the extraordinary goodwill of firefighters—past and present—Actions Beyond Words has completed its second convoy of fire trucks to Ukraine this year. That brings our 2025 total to four fire appliances delivered, all privately fundraised, thanks to the generosity of supporters around the world. Neil and Ryan...
It was a bright and sunny morning as the team packed the support vehicle, grabbed a quick breakfast, and readied themselves for the road ahead. Hard to believe we were already five days into the project - how could it be Tuesday already? Fourteen hundred miles behind us, and another five hundred still to go...
There was a common theme to the start of our first full day in Ukraine: waking up in Uzhhorod with bleary eyes, snooze buttons hit more than once, strong coffee, late showers, and hastily grabbed breakfasts. Our Rotarian counterpart had kindly arranged a tour of the historic city for those keen to explore, while others...
It’s almost unfathomable to begin writing this. Just 14 days ago, two firefighting appliances that had left Norwich some 30 hours earlier, carrying a team of four dedicated current and former firefighters, and a retired NHS CEO as well as Diss & District Rotarian, arrived in Medyka, Poland. They had crossed Europe through days, nights,...
A Week of Impact: Delivering Aid Across Ukraine As December's chill gave way to January’s freeze, reflections on the past year merged with plans for future endeavours. In December 2024, an international coalition, spearheaded by Actions Beyond Words (ABW), gathered in Poland to prepare for a week of relentless effort in Ukraine. Friends and colleagues from...
It’s been an exhilarating summer of sport in Paris, with Ukraine claiming 12 medals and the anticipation building for the upcoming Paralympics. While our gold medals didn’t come from the City of Lights, they did come from a world champion. Curious? Read on to discover the incredible story behind this triumph!Earlier this year, a team...
As the war in Ukraine enters its third year, our commitment to providing vital humanitarian aid to those affected by the conflict remains unwavering. Today, we'd like to take a moment to introduce you to Andre, another member of the team at Actions Beyond Words (ABW). Since joining our headquarters in January 2024, fresh off...
This week at Actions Beyond Words (ABW), our headquarters pulsed with the vibrant energy of teams from Norway (Paracrew), Finland (Nada-Nord), and Japan (WDRAC) working together towards a common goal. Everyone from the various international teams had a very busy week, but we want to take a moment to give a huge shout-out to Berit...
Volunteering with ABW offers a fulfilling opportunity to positively impact communities affected by the war in Ukraine. Volunteers from across the globe join us for varying durations, ranging from two weeks to several months. Let's delve into the journey of one volunteer on the ground in Ukraine, while also highlighting the diverse roles available within...