A FAMILY has climbed a Welsh mountain to help Ukrainian children forced to flee their war-torn homes.
A mum, dad and three children from Knutsford have vowed to do all they can to help refugees rebuild their lives.
Dylan Peterson, 12, brother Robin, seven and sister Betty, 10, joined parents Beverley and Alex to trek to the top of Moel Famau.
This 1,821 summit is the highest point in Flintshire and translates as ‘mother mountain’.
The family raised £500 to buy medicine, food, clothes and household essentials and dropped the gifts off in person.
“When we saw all those distressing images on television we knew we had to do something,” said Beverley, a teaching assistant at Bexton Primary School.
“My husband’s family is from Poland. We flew to Warsaw and asked a refugee centre what they wanted.
“The things they needed most was medicine. Adults and children were poorly and had no access to medicine.”
The family bought £300 worth of medicine and spent £200 on toiletries, coffee, tea, fruit, vegetables and children’s socks.
Parents, staff and children at the Punkt Pobytowy refugee centre were overwhelmed with their generosity.
“The Ukrainians were thrilled and the refugee centre manager was delighted,” said Beverley.
“It was only a tiny thing for us but the reception we received was wonderful.”
The family collected money through a PayPal pool and a collection in the staff room at Bexton Primary School.
Beverley and Alex, a web developer, completed a gruelling 30 mile walk from her dad Richard Seddon’s home in Liverpool to their family home in Knutsford on Sunday, August 28.
“We heard about a Ukrainian boy aged 12 who walked for days to cross the border,” said Beverley.
“He was the same age as my little boy and it triggered something.
“We’re good at walking so we set off at 9.45am.
“It took us just over nine hours but was only a fraction of what some of the Ukrainian refugees have had to walk to flee their homes.
“It was a massive challenge but we were absolutely fine the following day.”
Beverley has set now up a JustGiving page to raise money for Save The Children which is helping Ukrainian children.
To donate visit justgiving.com/fundraising/petersons
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