A PERSONAL trainer was blown away by the huge response to his fundraiser for Ukraine earlier this year.

Looking back on the efforts of local people who organised support for Ukraine, Steven Rooney helped to deliver essential items to a Moldovan refugee camp and assist those fleeing the war-torn country.

With an outpouring of support for the Ukrainian people during the Russian invasion, Steven felt it was necessary to get involved and try to bring the community together to help the refugees.

Steven with donations at the storage facility in Widnes

Starting from his home in Sutton, Steven, a mobile personal trainer, appealed for donations such as medical supplies, hygiene and baby products, sleeping bags, and long-lasting foods.

With so much support for Steven's project, his house quickly became inundated with donations and a storage facility had to be rented in Widnes to temporarily store all the items.

Organising the project with a dedicated team of family and friends, they also asked for cash donations so they could fund the fuel costs for the journey and deliver items directly to the refugee camps that needed it most.

Steven's house was filled with supplies

In total, the community of St Helens helped to fill two arctic lorries and a minibus of essential supplies and raised eleven thousand pounds to fund the fuel costs.

Steven, 50, said: "I started putting appeals out to try and do my bit for the people of Ukraine, and tried to utilise my personal training clients for something good.

"I started collecting in my house but the donations were non-stop and I soon had to look into storage facilities to store it all.

Volunteers for Steven's Ukraine fundraiser

"I was honoured to see how much support people gave the project, from people dropping off donations to those who volunteered to help fill the lorries up.

"It was really heartwarming and it goes to show how the people of St Helens really do rally around each other and want to help."

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