Nairn man to use his army skills to serve up help to Ukraine
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A FORMER Scots Guardsman who served in the second Iraq war and runs Nairn Boxing Club is enlisting the help of families to support Ukrainian soldiers and civilians fighting Russian forces.
Kevin Brooks is making up small ration packs which would be suitable for battlefield supplies but also can distributed to civilians in need of humanitarian aid.
"I served in Iraq myself but I'm also getting help and advice from former soldiers who served in the Falklands, Bosnia and Kosova as to what's best to include in the packs. Even some veterans from Malaya in the 1960's are helping out with advice."
Kevin said the packs are contained in shoe boxes and include high protein foods which can be easily packed.
"There will be breakfast meals in tubs. pasta and noodles with vitamin bars, chocolate and sweets. But they also must include simply things for personal hygiene including toothpaste, brushes and wipes and of course the packs can also be used by young mothers trying to look after their children."
Kevin added: "It's a case of working out what's going to make the most effective packs. I've a good idea of the basics but I'm open to ideas from serving soldiers and former soldiers as to what to put in them.
"Unfortunately there's not much we can do militarily to support the Ukrainians but we should all be trying to provide humanitarian aid and hopefully government sanctions will help.
"It's devastating and we all feel powerless but we can do our bit and hopefully will help in the rebuilding of the country."
Kevin's wife Emma has also been collecting clothes for refugees and members of the club and their families are helping the aid effort.
"We'll get the ration packs made up and they will go on to a van and be sent to the various distribution centres around the country."
The club is accepting donations at their premises on the High Street in Nairn.
