How your donation can help KGH staff on the coronavirus frontline

A Kettering woman hopes everyone in the town will donate £1 to protect the KGH doctors and nurses on the coronavirus frontline.

Sam Walton, 25, started a fundraising page aimed solely at helping those putting their health at risk by treating those with the virus or suspected of having it at the Rothwell Road hospital.

There are fears around the country that a shortage of PPE (personal protective equipment) is leaving hospital staff at risk. Just last week Northamptonshire Chamber asked businesses for urgent help to provide PPE and medical equipment KGH and NGH.

Sam wants the town to give back and protect those who are protecting us.

She said: "I am one of the 1.5 million people in the country who has been contacted to say that if I get coronavirus I will end up quite poorly.

"I have a lot of friends and family who work at KGH and what we hear so much is that staff are not protected.

"If we are not protecting them and they get sick, how will they be able to protect us?

"If every adult in Kettering donated just £1 it would be an insane amount. I do not know a single person who would not pay £1 to save a life."

Money raised will go straight towards KGH's frontline coronavirus staff to supply masks, gloves, aprons and sanitising equipment.

It will also help employ agency staff so that those on the frontline are not working so many hours they burn out

The appeal has got off to a flying start.

Sam said: "I am so happy we managed to get to £200 in 12 hours.

"The reason I did it was because I have lived in Kettering for my whole life and I have seen first-hand how amazing our community can be when it gets difficult.

"I hope we can continue to do that despite being in lockdown - we can still help and contribute from our own homes."

To donate, click here.KGH’s chief people officer, Mark Smith, said: “We would like to thank all of the kind local people who are approaching the trust with offers of support at this difficult time.

“Sam is well-known to our fundraising department and her family is known for its charitable work.

“This crowdfunding page to support our colleagues is very much appreciated and we would use any donations given to support this work now and in the critically important time ahead.”

Anyone who wants to support KGH at this time can contact the hospital’s #We Care team leader Jayne Chambers on 07974 259343 or 01536 493210 email [email protected].