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...
Somehow, Friday morning rolled around, and it had been a week since we’d left England. The air raid sirens had silenced, at least for now, and it was time to deliver our final fire appliance. For full transparency, we’d arrived at the firehouse the night before, but in the interest of keeping things in chronological order,...
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,...
What do you get when you combine Actions Beyond Words (ABW), a Morrison Salad Bar (Whole Foods for our American friends, City Market [ish] for Vermonters), a bag of sausage rolls, a 20-year-old reconditioned fire engine from East Anglia, the Rotary Club, and a shared passion for a great cause? The answer: incredible success—£3,100 (just over...
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...
At the end of August, Actions Beyond Words (ABW) had the honor of welcoming back War Disaster Reconstruction Assistance Center (WDRAC) member Hoshi-San, affectionately known as “Star Man,” who traveled all the way from Japan to join our team in delivering aid to Ukraine. This marked his second mission with us, demonstrating his unwavering commitment...
This isn’t just a story of digital connections or AI magic—there’s a real heart behind it. Mark wasn't just another seasoned veteran when he arrived in Poland from Kansas to volunteer with Actions Beyond Words (ABW) for six weeks in September and October of 2024. Yes, he brought a wealth of hands-on expertise from countless...
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...
Recently, ABW hosted organizations from around the globe with one common goal: to come together and support those in Ukraine who urgently need humanitarian aid. Our organizations united for one week in February with a shared mission of aiding the people in Ukraine who need support the most. Amidst the joyful reunion chatter, there was...