£1m raised by Addenbrooke's Charitable Trust Coronavirus Appeal to help NHS heroes
Donations totalling more than £1million have been raised for Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust’s Coronavirus Appeal.
The NHS charity supports Addenbrooke’s Hospital and the Rosie through its fundraising, and the generosity of the community has seen them receive £1,048,000 during the pandemic.
Shelly Thake, ACT’s CEO, said: “Our local community has been incredible, and we would not have been able to achieve so much without them.
“We are so pleased that people are showing such warmth and generosity to our local hospital. Every £1 donated makes a huge difference.”
The money is being used to support the NHS in a range of different ways.
It is helping the support of frontline staff and patients. Donations have helped provide iPads to allow patients to communicate more easily with staff and to enable family members to comfort their critically ill relatives in intensive care and other wards.
Psychological support is being made available for staff and patients including a counselling service for A&E staff to help them to cope with the crisis and its long-term effects.
A nurses charity is able to give seminars and leadership support for nurses who are managing staff or working through the crisis.
The funds have assisted in providing snacks, refreshments and toiletries, such as hand cream and shower gel, to frontline staff.
As part of enhancements to the patient environment for those in hospital for non Covid-19 reasons, toys and activity packs have been given to children in hospital who must usually share, and whiteboards and colouring material for dementia patients.
The fundraising has also allowed for numerous diagnostic and therapeutic Covid-19 research programmes.
Dr Rosalind Smith, ACT’s chair of trustees, said: “It has been a genuine privilege to witness the leadership, organisation and selfless dedication to saving lives shown by everyone at Addenbrooke’s.
“At ACT we feel very lucky to have the massive support from our donors and the Cambridgeshire community that is allowing us to support the hospital, and the country, in its fight against COVID-19.
“It enables us to fund research, testing, innovations in diagnosis, care and treatment, and well-being support for patients, families and staff.”
Fundraising continues, and people can take part in the virtual tea break each day via video conference with colleagues, friends or relatives as part of the Tea at Three campaign,
act4addenbrookes.org.uk/events/tea-at-three
There is the Cambridge Commodities art competition for those age up to 18, act4addenbrookes.org.uk/artcomp
Or donations can be made at helpyourhospital.co.uk
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