The ASB Mannheim/Rhine-Neckar Region sends two ambulances with material to Ukraine
(Mannheim, 21.07.2022) Two ambulances of the ASB Mannheim/Rhine-Neckar Region started on Thursday, 21.07.2022 from the rescue station in Mannheim-Käfertal towards the Romanian/Ukrainian border. There, the two vehicles will be received by representatives of Mannheim's twin city Chernivtsi. The ambulances are to support the city hospital on site. The board of the ASB region Mannheim/Neckar has initiated the project together with the regional association Baden-Württemberg e.V. and in cooperation with the city of Mannheim. Peter Schmid, deputy state chairman of ASB Baden-Württemberg e.V. and treasurer of ASB Mannheim/Rhine-Neckar Region , together with managing director Joachim Schmid, bid farewell to the ASB employees with the two vehicles, wishing the four-member team a safe journey. The donated ambulances were in regular use until recently. The donation has a total value of about 25,000 euros. The project was supported by a charity tournament organized by TSV Neckarau and other donations. The soccer tournament for children and young people took place on March 20, raising 3,000 euros. Another donation came from Swen Henning, the managing director of the Heidelberg-based company GREEN (German REENgineering). The donations were used to buy material for emergency operations, such as bandages, resuscitation bags, protective suits and disinfectants.
Exciting ride through Germany, Austria, Hungary and Romania.
"We are looking forward to this mission," says Herwin Hadameck, who will lead the team, "it's always nice to be part of a humanitarian relief effort." The team of four volunteers quickly found each other and is looking forward to supporting Ukraine. The tour will first take the volunteers through Austria and Hungary. An overnight stay is planned in Budapest. From there, the next day, the team will first travel to the Romanian city of Suceava, where they will pick up a rental car. The final stop is the Romanian town of Siret, which lies two kilometers from the border with Ukraine. "This is where we will hand over the ambulances with their contents," says Hadameck, who hopes that everything will run smoothly on the ground. The ambulances will then arrive in Mannheim's twin city of Chernivtsi. "According to our information, the Ukrainian city is not under immediate shelling," says Hadameck, "but many people have now arrived there on the run." So the vehicles, as well as the relief material, are urgently needed. "We are very well prepared," emphasizes Hadameck, "but of course such a trip always involves risks and surprises." He is pleased that the trip is well supported; for example, the Austrian and Hungarian authorities are waiving toll fees. On the way back, the team will return the rental car in the Romanian city of Cluj and return to Frankfurt by plane. If everything goes according to plan, the team will be back home on Saturday evening. "Of course, we are keeping our fingers crossed that everything works out and that our people get back safely," says Joachim Schmid, managing director of ASB Mannheim/Rhine-Neckar Region. "I think this voluntary commitment is great," emphasizes board member Peter Schmid, who was instrumental in bringing the project forward, also in consultation with the city of Mannheim. "This clearly shows the enthusiasm with which our volunteers actively support such projects," says Peter Schmid. It speaks for the ASB Mannheim/Rhine-Neckar Region, that everyone pulls together and helps wherever it is necessary and possible. Fek