When Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, Francis Wildman, a British lawyer, couldn't just watch from afar. Driven by a simple conviction-"because I could"-he left his quiet life in Kent, England, and drove 1,126 miles to the Poland-Ukraine border. Armed only with an ageing Chrysler Voyager and a determination to help, Francis plunged into the chaos of Europe's largest refugee crisis since World War II.
From ferrying families to safety in Italy, Latvia, and beyond, to delivering aid into war-torn Ukraine, Francis' memoir is a raw, heartfelt chronicle of compassion in action. The book has over 100 full colour pictures and maps and web videos from the time. Amidst teddy bear mountains, border bureaucracies and countless logistical and emotional challenges, are moments of hope and redemption.
Francis and a global band of volunteers worked tirelessly to ease the suffering of those fleeing the war. What began as a simple act of compassion quickly grew into a life-altering mission.
Because We Could is a testament to the power of ordinary people doing extraordinary things. Through humour, humility, and compelling honesty, Francis Wildman shows what happens when people answer the call to help-because they can.
