A Helensburgh woman is preparing to sell her shop and head to Poland to volunteer with Ukrainian refugees in a bid to “do something worthwhile” with her life.

Kathleen Young, 55, has been running Fancy Fillings on West Clyde Street for the past seven years, but is ready for a new challenge.

With her flight booked for March 3, she is set to head out to charity All Hands on Hearts’ site in Jaroslaw in south-east Poland – close to Ukraine’s western border.

She will initially spend a month there before flying back home, with a view to returning to the camp.

Kathleen said: “I own a wee sandwich shop in Helensburgh and I’ve struggled through Covid.

“I turned 55 at Christmastime and I just thought, ‘I could be doing something worthwhile with my life’. I applied to volunteer and that was it.

“I’ve been thinking about doing something for years to be honest, but the Ukraine crisis just seemed like the right opportunity to make a difference.

“I think, sadly, they need me more than people need a roll and sausage. I just want to do something worthwhile before I get too old.”

All Hands on Hearts has been working in Poland since March 2022 following the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

The charity has supported the evacuation of more than 58,000 people through local partner efforts and provided 12 collection centres for evacuated children.

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It has purchased 21 vehicles to aid its efforts, included an armoured truck, two minibuses, two passenger vans, and one cargo van.

In order to help with the cost of her travel and equipment, Kathleen is fundraising ahead of her trip.

She’s aiming to raise £1,500 to help pay for flights, train fare, and safety equipment.

She said: “The donations will make a huge difference. I am really relying on the public to help me get there.

“I’ve been watching things unfold in Ukraine for a long time, like everybody else.

“The only way I can support them is by giving them my time, and I’ve got time to give.

“I’m fit and I’m healthy. I just think that if you can, we should all be helping a bit.

“I think people are forgetting about them a wee bit with the economy in Britain.”

The Clyde Bar is also hosting a fundraising event for Kathleen and is looking for raffle prizes. Anyone who is able to contribute can drop prizes off to the bar or hand them in to Kathleen at the shop.

To donate towards Kathleen’s trip, visit her fundraising page here.