A UKRAINIAN boy’s eyesight has been fully restored thanks to allotment holders and The Polish Centre in Leamington.
Following the Russian invasion of his country, Ignat, from Slowiansk in the Donbas region, was forced to move with his family to live in Shepetivka in a house with no bath or shower.
Using the facilities at a nearby church, Ignat came to the attention of Sister Marlena, who is a contact for the Polish Centre. She told the centre how Ignat needed the surgery as his vision was declining rapidly.
The community at the centre in High Street has been providing aid to Ukraine since the war started.
The money to pay for Ignat’s essential eye surgery was donated to The Polish Centre by town resident Ram Prinjah who has held an allotment at St Mary’s Allotments on Radford Road since 1993.
He was helped by fellow members of the St Mary’s Allotment’s Association in raising £700 from the sale of plants, which was given to the centre’s ongoing appeal to help the victims of the war.
Ram said: “It was very nice to be told that some of the money has been used for this. “That’s what I wanted, to help somebody.”
Ignat sent a message to say thank you and that the operation had been a complete success and his eyesight was now fully restored.
And children in Ukraine also created artwork which has been sent to The Polish Centre to thank everyone involved in the donation.
Since the centre started its appeal for humanitarian items and donations, it has shipped over 168 tons of aid. It is still asking for medical supplies and dried and tinned food to be dropped off at the centre.
Funds are also been raised to pay for much needed ambulances to be sent to Ukraine. Two ambulances have already been purchased. There is an online fundraising page to buy ambulances which can be visited here
For more information about the Polish Centre’s appeal follow its Facebook page The Polish Centre Royal Leamington Spa
