Hartlepool man swaps Dubai for Ukraine mercy mission - saying the war scenes are 'heart rending'

Kevin Hogg, 35, returned to town recently from his home in Dubai to surprise his mum Helen on her birthday.

But since then, the Russian invasion of Ukraine began and now Kevin is fully immersed in supporting his family’s business with their planned mercy mission to help the victims of war.

He has spent days sorting through duvets, blankets, medical supplies and even knitted hats.

His next job is to join his dad Graham on a mercy mission across Europe, scheduled for Thursday.

He and Graham, 68, will leave Hartlepool with a truck load of donated goods on a journey to a collection point in Krakow in Poland.

Once they arrive, the package will be handed to local designated drivers who will transport it to Lviv in Ukraine.

Kevin, who normally works as a commercial manager in construction in Dubai and hails from Hartlepool, said: “We are getting calls from across the region. The whole of the North East is inundating us with donations at the moment.”

Kevin was only expecting to be back in Hartlepool for “three or four days” but the huge donation effort has persuaded him to stay.

"Supplies were coming in thick and fast. People have given everything that they possibly can to help this cause.

"One woman in her 80s had knitted more than 40 hats.”

“I knew my mam and my sister Lyndsay needed help with the items which were coming in so I just rolled my sleeves up and got on with it.”

His dad Graham is director/owner of Hogg Global Logistics.

The bid to help Ukraine was only launched last week but "tens of thousands” of items have poured into Hogg, which is based at the Hartlepower Energy Hub, in Stranton, ever since.

In less than 24 hours, sleeping bags, duvets, blankets and medical supplies all arrived at the town company which volunteered itself as a collection point for donations.

Hogg now only wants donations of medical supplies, and have stressed they can not take clothes or food.

Hogg stepped in when it heard about the plans of Ferryhill man Rob Tocher, who launched the initial plea for donations.

People wanting to make donations to Hogg Global Logistics can either visit the company between 10am and 5pm or call 07757 099190.

For the latest news and information about the Ukraine invasion click here for online NationalWorld coverage.

Support your Mail and become a subscriber today.

Enjoy unlimited access to all of our news and sport, see fewer ads, experience faster load times, test your brain with daily puzzles and get access to exclusive newsletters.

Your support for our journalism means we can continue telling Hartlepool’s stories for generations to come. Click here to subscribe - and click here to get a snapshot of the Mail’s news and sport to your inbox through our email newsletters.