Following the success of the Haslemere Hens charity fundraising initiative, a cheque for £2,350 was presented to Eddie Boyes of Petworth Ukraine Relief.

The sum was the total of three Haslemere Hens sold at the charity auction on October 22, whose sponsors or artists designated the proceeds to be donated towards helping the Ukrainian war effort.

Those three hens were UkrainiHen by Zoe Oliver, Foxy Cock A Doodle by Wendy Richards and Curka – which is Ukrainian for Hen – by Ukrainian students Anna Senchuk and Maryna Kytsun.

The sale proceeds totalled £1,750, which was increased by donations of £250 each by Haslemere Hens and Haslemere and District Chamber of Trade and Commerce, and £100 from AppArt Studios of Grayswood.

UkrainiHen was sponsored by the Haslemere and District Chamber of Trade and Commerce, Foxy Cock A Doodle by Graduate Landscapes and Curka by Haslemere Pilates Studio.

Studio owner Karol House is hosting Ukrainian students Anna and Maryna while they study online at Kyiv University.

Petworth Ukraine Relief was started by Eddie Boyes because his wife is from Ukraine and they have family and friends living there. With the help of a few like-minded people, they began to collect aid with the aim of sending it directly into Ukraine. They were quickly overwhelmed with donations and the Leconfield Estate offered the use of a converted barn in Lodsworth.

The aid is delivered to Ukraine by volunteer drivers and Eddie works closely with a Ukrainian friend who distributes aid all over Ukraine. Around 100 tons of aid has been sent so far.

The Fernhurst Hub also hosts Thursday afternoon get-togethers for Ukrainians to meet, enjoy afternoon tea and participate in English lessons provided by the hub’s French tutor Cecile Greener.

These activities are watched over by UkrainiHen, which is now the hub’s mascot having been bought at the charity auction with funds specifically raised by hub supporters.