We are all immensely saddened by the constant stories of the awful war that the Ukrainian people are enduring at present. We feel helpless that innocent families are having their lives quite literally blown apart and there seems to be little we can do.

My heart felt glad, therefore, at the recent story of Hassan, an eleven year old boy, who managed to walk an incredible 700 miles to the Slovakian border to try to make contact with family in Slovakia. Hassan’s mother was poorly and also looking after her own mother but she felt that Hassan would have an opportunity to be safe by fleeing to Slovakia, where the family had relatives. So, she packed the little boy off with 2 plastic bags, his passport and a phone number written on his hand. Amazingly, he managed to reach the border and has since been helped out by the Slovakian authorities to find his relatives.

Thinking back to how I was at the age of 11, I cannot begin to imagine the incredible maturity and resilience this young chap must have. I hope that Hassan, along with his mum and grandmother, can all be reunited in a safe and comfortable place soon.

My heart goes out to the incredibly brave and wonderful people of Ukraine. We are all thinking of you.

Wendy xx