Musicians gather to raise funds for Ukraine supplies

Musicians have gathered for a fundraising event to support the people of Ukraine.

The fourth Play for Ukraine event since the war with Russia began in 2022 was being held at the Face Bar in Reading, Berkshire, on Saturday.

All donations from the event will be used to pay for a vehicle loaded with essential supplies, which will be sent to the frontline.

Organiser and drummer, Pete Laschok, whose father was Ukrainian, said it was not a political event and was "just about helping people".

"I just want to help in some way, in a humanitarian sense," Mr Laschok said, explaining he was so "upset" and "emotional" when he saw the war unfold.

"Bombs are still flying, people are getting killed," he said.

He said he did not feel hopeful that peace would be achieved soon, adding that he believed the people of Ukraine would always need some kind of help.

Five bands volunteered to perform at this year's event - Pink Diamond Revue, Natural Right, Hoopy Frood, Kryla and He Fired First.

.Mr Laschok said the vehicle they managed to fundraise for last year was still in operation in Ukraine.

He told the BBC he hoped his efforts would have made his late father proud but said it was "good that he's not here to see it because he would be devastated by it".

Stefan Bomok is from the Reading Branch of the Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain, which will receive the donations from the fundraiser and ensure the vehicle gets to Ukraine.

He said the organisation had sent five 4x4 vehicles from Reading so far.

"The [new] vehicle will be ferrying back and forwards, military stuff and medical aide to the frontline and wounded back to hospitals," he said.

Mr Bomok, whose late father was Ukrainian, said the first time his family visited the country was just before it achieved independence.

He said: "We saw the flags being raised outside the white building in Kyiv and I felt more at home going back to Ukraine, even though I was never born there, than in England.

"What my father gave me was culturally very strong."

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