Canarias-Wuelva-kyiv: The adventures of a former rally driver helping Ukraine

From sunny Maspalomas to cold Kiev. Former rally driver and ultramarathon fan Paco Molina has already done his three trips in a van. To deliver to the people of Ukraine humanitarian aid raised by his association Karna with funds from Cabildo de Gran Canaria.

“This time, I brought 2,000 kilograms of surgical and medical materials delivered to the military.‘” Molina told EFE at a bar in his hotel in Kiev, hours before embarking on the return journey between two of Europe’s most remote points, which doesn’t seem to be a problem for the former pilot.

“it takes three or four days, he talks about the time required to complete the trip between the Ukrainian capital and Huelva. From there, Naviera Armas gives him a free ticket to return to Gran Canaria in a van.

When asked about the difficulties of such a long journey, the former rally driver doesn’t seem to see distance as an issue, emphasizing the joy of driving on highways – especially in Germany where there are ‘no speed limits’. thing.

Pandemic origin

Born in the English town of St Albans in 1960 to a family of Spanish immigrants who soon returned to Algeciras. Molina arrived on the island at the age of 18 and devoted herself to the hospitality industry. Competed in competitions such as the Gran Canaria Grain Rally Championship.

Molina founded Karna, which can be translated as “compassion”, a concept in Hinduism and Buddhism.to help those who lost their jobs in the town he adopted, San Bartolome de Tirajana, where he was also a councilor.

San Bartolome is located in Gran Canaria. The famous tourist city of Maspalomas is located in its municipality.

“There was a lot of tourism and a lot of underground economy, and all those who lost their jobs and had no contracts received neither income nor assistance,” explains Molina, who lives in Kiev’s Podil district.

Karuna started distributing food and basic products to these people and today there are about 70 volunteers. With the help of City Hall and a van that Molina has made three trips to Ukraine, they serve about 2,000 people in situations of vulnerability and social exclusion each month.

From La Palm to the War in Ukraine

Molina Society He also participated in humanitarian work to care for people affected by the volcanic eruption on Canary Island, La Palma in September 2021.A few months later, on February 24, Russian forces launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

A few weeks later, Molina and one of his collaborators traveled in a van for the first time to western Ukraine to deliver humanitarian aid to a local NGO.

On his second trip in April 2022, things took a turn for the worse when his Ukrainian partner ran out of gas, forcing the Karuna founder to find his own life. Bypassing her language problems, Molina was able to make herself understood and deliver her cargo to the army.

refugee and co-pilot

To avoid these problems, the former pilot established direct ties with the Ukrainian military.and this February, he completed his third mission, arriving in the same capital accompanied by Rebeka Parshtina, a Ukrainian refugee living in Tenerife who served as co-pilot and interpreter.

One of the things that impressed Molina most on her last visit to Ukraine was Meet and share food rations with men and women in military uniforms who protect Ukraine in this warThe military environment reminds Karuna’s founders of their time in the military.

Watching homeless people spend the cold Ukrainian winters in the streets and underpasses of Kiev, he came to understand why Karuna has so much work in San Bartolome de Tirajana. Many people from all over Spain have settled in San Bartolome de Tirajana without renting or buying a home.

“Warm climate all year roundMolina says.

“This allows them to sleep on the beach. It also has more access to food than other places because there are more tourists and more food-rich restaurants,” the former pilot said. An island understood over 5,000 kilometers away.