Ukraine fund hits £4m: As more desperate families trudge across the border with little else but their coats, Archbishop of York backs our appeal
- Archbishop of York hailed Mail readers for their donations to the campaign
- Ukraine appeal has soared to more than £4million just eight days in
- The money is being given to charities such as CARE International and Red Cross
The Archbishop of York has hailed the generosity of Mail readers as our Ukraine Appeal soared past £4million last night.
It was helped by investment firm Abrdn, which pledged £25,000 on top of the £100,000 it has already given to Unicef’s campaign.
Thousands more has been raised thanks to our army of readers including Peter Hale, 76, who is doing his bit by completing a 500,000-step challenge.
The Archbishop of York has hailed the generosity of Mail readers as our Ukraine Appeal soared past £4million last night. Pictured: Refugees near the Polish border
Their amazing donations have seen our record-breaking newspaper appeal to support refugees reach the astonishing total just eight days after it launched.
At the request of Lord and Lady Rothermere, the Mail’s parent company DMGT has donated £500,000.
Stephen Cottrell, Archbishop of York, said: ‘The Christian faith teaches me to love my neighbour – refugees are most definitely our neighbours, however and wherever they come from.
‘The crisis in Ukraine compels us to respond to this need generously and it is great to see how readers of the Daily Mail have risen to that call.’
Thousands more has been raised thanks to our army of readers including Peter Hale, 76, who is doing his bit by completing a 500,000-step challenge. Pictured: Children wait for their relatives at a hospital in Mariupol, Ukraine
Abrdn made its donation to the Mail – having already donated to Unicef’s Ukraine appeal – after staff and partners spoke of their devastation witnessing the catastrophe unfold.
More than 1.5million Ukrainians have fled into neighbouring countries, the UN said, with charities fearing that could rise to 5million.
And two attempts to evacuate thousands from the heavily bombarded port city of Mariupol at the weekend had to be abandoned, with Ukraine accusing Russia of breaking a ceasefire.
The £4million raised in eight days is being given to charities such as CARE International and the Red Cross which are already working inside Ukraine.
More than 1.5million Ukrainians have fled into neighbouring countries, the UN said, with charities fearing that could rise to 5million. Pictured: Refugees form a line as they reach the border with Poland
Mr Hale, a retired surveyor, is one of our readers who felt compelled to do something after reading about Russia’s atrocities. He set himself the challenge of completing half a million steps – around 250 miles – before his 77th birthday on Friday.
‘Like everyone, I have just felt so powerless looking on at what Putin is doing. I recently injured my arm playing tennis, so I thought I would use my time off to do something meaningful,’ he said.
Mr Hale, who lives with wife Janet, 78, in Eaton Bray, Bedfordshire, has already raised over £400 and walked over 400,000 steps with just 77,000 to go last night.
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