Sir Rod Stewart has helped a family of Ukrainian refugees by renting out a home for them in Berkshire. Stewart said he was inspired to help the family of seven, who fled to the UK from the war-torn country, after watching what was unfolding in the news.
“Words couldn’t describe what we were watching,” Sir Rod told the Daily Mirror. “The bombing of innocent children, the bombing of hospitals and playgrounds. Like everyone else, we were completely beside ourselves. I don’t wish that on anyone. This is evil, pure evil.”
The singer is supporting the family by paying rent and bills for their Berkshire property for a year.
He also shared that he had hired three trucks full of supplies for refugees and had them transported to Ukraine. Afterwards, the vehicles were used to help transport 16 people travel safely to Berlin.
In a statement, the Ukrainian couple Olena and Rostyslav expressed their gratitude to Stewart and others who had helped. “Many thanks to Sir Rod Stewart, Warren Cady, his parents and their family for their openness and genuine and big hearts. Thanks to their sponsorship and Warren’s hard work, our children are now safe and able to learn normally in school.”
Stewart, who was knighted in 2016, said he wanted to use his powers as a knight for good.
“I usually keep all my charitable efforts nice and quiet and just do it. But I thought, ‘I am a knight, I have been given this knighthood because of the things I’ve achieved in my life and the charity work I’ve done over the years’.
He continued: “But that was the past; I want to be seen to be doing something now. I am a knight, I should be using my power to do something for people.
“I am sure that if there are people out there who see what I am doing, they will pick up some slack too.”
