A retired network engineer from Haslington is gearing up for an epic journey to take medical kits to help war-torn people from Ukraine.

Sixty-four year old Steve Bratherton sets off early tomorrow (Saturday) on a 1,500 mile journey to the Polish border with the Ukraine

So incensed was Steve by the plight of people caught up in the war following the invasion of Russia into Ukraine that he

decided needed to take action. Steve has spent £4,404 buying 40 burns responder kits which are packed into the boot of his car ready to take to Poland. But his heroic efforts aren't stopping there for after delivering the kits he is planning to drive a Ukrainian family to European place of safety of their choice. And he's going to donate a further 500 Euros of his own money to the family so they can make a fresh start in safety. He said: "I couldn't sit here and do nothing. I only started thinking about it last weekend and the idea came to me. "I was lucky enough to have my life saved by doctors and nurses and I want to help those less fortunate caught up in this war." Steve was flown to the Royal Stoke Hospital with life-changing injuries following a hit and run accident in Crewe three years' ago. He said: "I can't thank the NHS for the help they gave me then and these poor people have nothing. This is the very least I can do." Steve has set up a Go Fund Me page here. to help fund his mercy mission. Steve says he enjoys driving, one thing he is able to do with his disability, and says it's not the first time he has driven across Europe. In 2010, he drove to the Arctic Circle to raise over £10,000 for Cancer Research. "Four of us went then but I'm doing this journey on my own. If the money keeps coming in, there's nothing to stop me doing it again." So far, Steve's Go Fund Me page, "My Mission to Help the People of Ukraine" has raised £3,005. Steve sets off early Saturday morning and hopes to reach the Polish/Ukraine border by Monday night.