A Roseneath area man is on his way to Poland to give out humanitarian aid to refugees from Ukraine.
Forty-two-year-old James Challice boarded a flight on Tuesday, March 29, 2022 that lifted off just after 10 p.m. from Pearson International Airport.
“There is a lot of people there that could use our help,” Challice said speaking to Today’s Northumberland on Monday while getting ready for the journey.
Challice who spent time in the regular Canadian Armed Forces until 2007 and has been a reservist for five years with the Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment and qualified as an assault pioneer” said he keeps “well informed” with the military said he couldn’t stand by and watch what was happening on the news any longer.
“I definitely have some experience and when I get down there, they can use me here, they can use me there – whatever I got to do to help them out.”
From humanitarian aid, to taking up arms, Challice said he will do whatever is necessary.
“There is a lot of people dying everyday, body bags with small children, families, sisters and brothers. It’s getting to the point now, they can put all the sanctions they want on it – it’s just not saving bodies.”
“It’s getting to the point now they can use the help. So I’ll be there.”
Challice said watching the days and weeks go by on the television, “if something like that was to happen here and we were outnumbered, out manned, I’d be praying to God to have people come and help us out.”
As a reservist and former regular member of the Canadian Armed Forces this trip has as much meaning as what Challice has ever done.
“It’s stuff that you trained for and like any soldier you feel with the training there is a time to use it and this is that time.”
The flight has been paid for and Challice will be meeting up with other Canadians when he arrives in Poland.
‘It’s been a hard go to find a way to get there, but this is probably my best bet – it’s really well organized.”
Challice said he’s not doing it for fame, glory or money.
“I’m doing this to go help people get out of that place because they are losing their houses and their families – it’s not good in my books.”
Challice has told very few people about his trip, but said there were two people who he asked their permission and tried to explain it best to them about why he was going.
His two children, Tyler (age 13) and Hudson (age 8) were told their dad would be away for awhile.
Although Hudson may have been to young to understand it, he called his father a superhero. Tyler gave his blessing saying if people need help, his dad was the one to help them.
In his luggage, Challace has 30 “Izzy” dolls his grandmother Phylis Gravelle from Trenton made to give to Ukraine children. Gravelle first made 3,000 dolls and gave them to soldiers going to Afghanistan to give to the children.
Ukraine Business Council representative Orest Haluszka met Challice at the airport on Tuesday evening and gave him a Canadian flag with the Ukrainian colours to take with him on his journey.
Challace will be there for 85-days but says if things get to dicey he has a way out.
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
