Charity brings Ukraine pizza efforts to 'sad' halt

A British charity behind specially kitted-out vans cooking pizzas to feed people in war-torn Ukraine has announced it is bringing its operation to a close amid safety worries and fundraising difficulties.

HopeFull said it had served more than 2.5 million free pizzas across 1,800 locations since Russia invaded the country three years ago.

Founder David Fox-Pitt MBE said ending the service was a "sad moment".

Among its volunteers was Jozef Mycielski, of Sedbergh, who told BBC Radio Cumbria it had been a privilege to bring "moments of hope" to people in Ukraine.

The organisation's fleet of vehicles included a van named The Sedbergh Wolf, which was paid for through £60,000 in donations following a campaign by Sedbergh School.

It took its name from the animal on the private school's emblem.

Mr Mycielski, HopeFull's spokesman, described its decision to halt the pizza-serving efforts as "really difficult".

"We pulled out of the East [of Ukraine] about a month ago for safety reasons.

"The fleet of trucks went back to the Lviv area. They're battered after more than 600,000 kms in the last three years.

"We've raised over £3m in three years, but there's a lot of fatigue around the conflict and it's been harder and harder to bring in £10,000 a week we've needed to keep the operations going."

Mr Mycielski was inspired to join the charity after meeting Mr Fox-Pitt in May 2022.

He added: "It's been an absolute privilege to spend time in Ukraine, weeks on end.

"I think we've made a real difference when a morale mission was needed more than ever. We've brought people moments of hope.

"The 2.5 million pizzas at 1,800 sites were not just pizza. They were 2.5 million smiles and real signs of solidarity between nations."

His time in the country had left him feeling "reflective", he said.

"Ukraine is still being battered. We've been privileged to be a small part in hopefully giving them lighter moments.

"Every trip was different. You wonder why it's happened - a massive miscalculation, in my view, by a self-proclaimed strongman and it's difficult to row back from there.

"We've witnessed such a waste of life. Three years of misery and grief on an epic scale. There are more than 70,000 amputees now, millions with PTSD, and billions or trillions in physical damage.

"But to hear stories from people who've been displaced and be able to give them a pizza, a coffee or a football or rugby ball donated by Cumbrian schools was a real privilege."

The charity, formerly known as Siobhan's Trust, will continue its HopeFull Future rehabilitation project, which it says enables servicemen, medics and their families to rebuild their lives.

Mr Fox-Pitt said: "This is a sad moment, but we have delivered as much hope and nourishment as we can, and our time has come to an end.

"I want to thank the amazing staff and over 500 volunteers who have made this remarkable enterprise possible."

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