Do you remember how the war in Ukraine began two years ago?

I have found it difficult to bring myself to post about this.. where were YOU when you first heard the news of war starting in Europe? It’s hard to believe that two years have passed since the devastating onset of the Russian invasion in Ukraine. It's a somber milestone we hoped we wouldn’t have to face, marked by the horrific suffering endured by thousands of innocent civilians.?

As we reflect on this period, and look back at the tremendous strength and resilience of our volunteers as well as the Ukrainian people trapped in this conflict, I'm reminded of the beginnings of Sunflower Relief - and the impact we’ve been able to have since the very start of the conflict.

Despite warnings, Sunflower Relief was born

Warnings and concerns rained on me from many advisors and senior contacts at the very beginning of Sunflower, who felt that taking a public stance on such a highly politicised issue was dangerous for me and potentially for my family. It started with a petition for sanctions on Russia - combined with a social media post offering? help to anyone back in Ukraine. But for me, there wasn’t ever a ‘choice’ to make. I knew that I had to help. I was already offering my own assistance, and I simply continued to mobilise more help, for more people.

Sunflower Relief was founded on the second day of the war, on the principle of humanitarianism. Our charitable charter enshrines our commitment to specifically support civilians - delivering essential aid to people just like you and me, living and working in Ukraine, who have had their lives ripped apart by the horrors of war.??

And since we started, thanks to our hundreds of supporters and volunteers, we’ve been able to make a tangible difference to thousands of lives. To date, we’ve raised more than ￡3 million - every penny of which ?has been delivered to people on the ground in Ukraine. We’ve supported hundreds of NGOs, thousands of civilians, impoverished families in need - and delivered hundreds? of volunteer hours to the cause.?

The power of YOUR support

Of course, our journey wouldn't have been possible without the unwavering support of an incredible community of individuals and organisations, many of whom have supported us since the very beginning.?

As we mark this sad second anniversary, I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the following for their generous contributions:

Simon La Fosse and LaFosse Associates, Remus Brett, Rachel Johnson, Saul Klein and Robin Klein and Phoenix Court Works , Ben Marrell and Breega Venture Capital , Paul Murphy and the team at Lightspeed Ventures , Brent Hoberman, Carolyn Dawson, and the entire team at the Founders Forum & Founders Factory, Katie Leah and the non profit / charities team at Goodwin Law , Russ Shaw, and the whole team at Tech Nation , Google Cloud , Dom Hallas at Coadec , Julia Morogniello, and the team at Point Nine Ventures, Seedcamp nation, Blue Lake VC and Lyubov Guk, and the whole team at Public.io - to name a few.

Their support, alongside that of countless others, is matched by a dedicated team of Sunflower’s UK and Ukraine-based case workers, online translators, drivers, aid supporters, and especially our volunteers. To everyone who has helped us - THANK YOU.

Looking forward

As we look ahead, it's clear that there's still much work to be done. Conflict persists and Ukrainians continue to suffer. Sunflower Relief remains committed to doing more, leveraging our collective resources and expertise to help those who need it most. We have a motto here - until the war stops, we don’t stop - and everyone who works with us is committed to make this promise a reality.

And now, as we embark on year three (!) of this conflict, we invite you to join us in our mission.?

• Are you a Ukrainian in a position of power of influence? Please help.?
• Are you at an organisation which is able to support cases with financial support? Please help.?
• Are you an individual with time or money to spare? Please help.?

Together, we can help innocent people like you and I, trapped in conflict - and focus on fundamental principles of compassion and solidarity.?

YOUR support, alongside that of our dedicated volunteers, case workers, translators, and supporters worldwide, is invaluable as we continue to provide essential humanitarian aid to the people of Ukraine.

Find out more about us here: https://www.sunflowerrelief.org

#SunflowerRelief #HumanitarianAid #24February2022