Callum McLachlan stands in front of a wall map of Ukraine. [Courtesy]
By Martin Lenkowsky | New Pelican Writer
Fort Lauderdale – When most people retire, a war zone is usually not on their travel bucket list. Fort Lauderdale resident Callum McLachlan is an exception.
McLachlan, 63, a recent retiree, who worked 39 years at the Pompano Farmer’s Market, will be heading to Ukraine in November on a charity mission bringing much-needed supplies to that besieged Eastern European nation. Because of security concerns, he asked his exact travel dates not be published.
McLachlan will not be making the trip alone. He will be part of a convoy leaving England on a fleet of Toyota pickup trucks bringing non-military items and equipped with drone-detecting technology.
The organization sponsoring and organizing these monthly convoys, which was formed in 2022 after the Russian invasion, is called Driving Ukraine. McLachlan successfully raised $14,500 to purchase the pickup truck. Additional monies were raised toward purchasing UGVs (unmanned ground vehicles) to be used to transport injured soldiers away from the front lines without endangering additional human lives.
The drone detection device each of the pickup trucks making the trip to Ukraine is hand-held and operated. “This drone thing is the new paradigm and Ukraine is on the forefront of it,” McLachlan said.
The convoys start from McLachlan’s native England, traversing a host of other European nations and ultimately reaching Ukraine from its neighbor, Poland. They disembark in Lviv, a city in western Ukraine.
The UGVs funded by Driving Ukraine, are built and assembled in Ukraine. “That’s done locally,” McLachlan said. “When I get there I’ll be asking more questions. Now I’m on a ‘need to know’ basis.”
Although he admits to having a bit of anxiety about traveling into a country at war, he feels confident. “These people have been doing it for three or four years.” McLachlan also points out thus far no one has been injured running these convoys into Ukraine.
He feels good about this and deems it necessary. “Putin is an existential threat to Europe and the rest of the world,” he said.
When the convoy arrives at Lviv, the pickup trucks remain with the Ukrainians, and McLachlan and his fellow volunteers stay over one night and visit a cemetery for casualties of the war. However, he plans on staying an additional few days doing volunteer work.
As to what is motivating him to partake in this potentially risky trip, he points to the strength and resilience of the Ukrainian people themselves. “This has been going on for four years,” he said. “I thought they’d get rolled over in a week. People admire the Ukrainians.”
According to McLachlan, he heard about this from a family friend, and felt compelled to get involved. “The man’s name is Jack Bernstein. We met at a wedding and he’s done the trip three times, and he started showing me photos of the trips.”
McLachlan was intrigued by what he had seen and decided to get involved. Bernstein will be making the trip in the same Toyota as his friend and co-driver.
Brian Saxton, a close friend and former work associate of McLachlan’s late father, recommended McLachlan publicize his trip. Both Saxton and McLachlan’s father were journalists in England and became foreign correspondents in the United States.
Saxton is impressed with McLachlan’s involvement. “I think that it’s a very brave adventure and I applaud it,” he said. “It could have its potential danger. I admire him for doing this. He has the resolve and he’s determined to do something. We need people who are taking risks these days. Thank goodness we have people like Callum.”
Those interested in Callum and Jack’s mission can visit donorbox.org/callumandjack to donate.