Alumni Stories: Jackie Robertson (Part 2) – Jeeps for Peace: Driving Hope to Ukraine

More from Jackie Robertson (nee Muller) Class of 1988 

In 2025 Jackie completed 4 self funded trips as a volunteer driving a 4 x 4 jeep from Edinburgh to Ukraine as part of a convoy. Each 2,400 km journey is exacting, driving to Newcastle, catching a ferry to Amsterdam then driving through Holland, Germany, Poland and into Ukraine to hand the jeep keys direct to the military. Having seen the harsh reality of conflict, Jackie has committed to driving 5 more jeeps in 2026 and another 5 in 2027; with February and April journeys completed, her next drive leaves on 26 June 2026. 

“To deliver life-saving vehicles and aid to those who need it most is raw, humbling, and profoundly life-changing. Each vehicle helps extract wounded to medical safety and each one can save up to 50 lives. I keep going back because I simply can’t not.

On each trip, I’ve seen the harsh reality of conflict — rows of graves for young men and women, some the same age as my own children. Each time, we visit the Field of Mars Cemetery in Lviv to pay our respects — and each time, the number of graves has grown. Driving through small villages and towns in Ukraine I couldn't place what was different and then it hit me, the stark reality is male absence - quite simply all men are at the frontline. People just like you and I live by curfews (martial law) at night only leaving outside those hours to reach shelters during air raids. I've stood alongside families where just one jeep can deliver home sons, brothers, fathers, uncles, grandsons, nephews and husbands to mend, rebuild or bury.

I’ve connected with the most amazing of humans, meeting survivors at the Superhuman Centre in Lviv, a world-leading prosthetics facility where soldiers and civilians with devastating injuries learn to walk, stand, and rebuild their lives. What a catastrophic impact on this generation and their families. Their courage is beyond words. Their resilience and spirit, indomitable.

I’ve witnessed the strength of mothers, children, medics, amputees, and soldiers who live with fear every single day — yet still meet us with kindness, courage, and gratitude. They are simply asking not to be forgotten. While I have the ability to do something, I promise I will.”

Each trip costs around £1,300 (£800 towards the jeep, £400 in fuel and £100 flight back) and Jackie has set up a Just Giving page with the goal of reaching £12,000 to allow her to help save lives. 
Your donation matters more than you can imagine.

ABOUT JEEPS FOR PEACE
Jeeps for Peace is a group of ordinary people with an extraordinary mission — to save lives in Ukraine. So far, we’ve delivered almost 600 Jeeps, ambulances, and even a fire engine to support frontline humanitarian efforts.

Once in Ukraine, each vehicle is modified for the front line — used to deliver food, medicine, and vital supplies, evacuate civilians, and rescue the wounded. Every single Jeep directly saves lives.

EACH DRIVE
Each vehicle helps extract wounded to medical safety — and each one can save 50 plus lives.
Also on each run to Ukraine each 4 x 4 can typically carry:
• Bandages, trauma dressings, first aid kits
• Lifesaving medical equipment e.g. ultrasound machines, defibrillators
• Medicines, warm clothing, wheelchairs, crutches

BE THE DIFFERENCE
Any donation — no matter how small, it counts - your help, helps Jackie to directly help save lives. Thank you so much for stepping up and standing together. If you wish to donate, click HERE.

Be the difference. Jackie

Jackie's story continues in Part 3.