Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals Charity has received a sizeable donation in its ‘Rainbow Gardens’ appeal to commerate those who have sadly passed away to Covid-19 illness.
The generous £10,000 contribution by Anpario plc, an international producer and distributor of natural feed additives in animal products, will go towards the Charity’s Rainbow Garden Appeal, which seeks to raise funds to create two memorial gardens. The company has also made an identical donation to Nottingham Hospitals Charity.
The NHS charity is fundraising with the ambition to create two Rainbow Gardens at Doncaster Royal Infirmary (DRI) and Bassetlaw Hospital sites respectively. These spaces, once created, will be dedicated to the memory of all those people lost locally to Covid-19, and to colleagues at the Trust, Kevin Smith and Dr Medhat Atalla, who sadly passed away following treatment for the illness. They will also provide a space of comfort, contemplation and relaxation for the friends, family and loved ones of those who have died, as well as for staff working within the hospitals.
Launched in mid-June, the Trust’s Rainbow Garden appeal has raised over £20,000 with a variety of well-wishers including local businesses as well as individuals donating, with work to begin in the near future.Richard Edwards, CEO of Anpario plc whose head office is based in Worksop, said: “Anpario recognises the heroic contributions made by NHS staff and key workers in the fight to manage and control the virus. As a way of expressing our thanks and giving back to our local communities, in which a large number of our workforce reside, we are delighted to announce our support for this appeal and these charities.”
Emma Shaheen, Head of Communications and Engagement at Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals (DBTH), said: “As a Trust we cannot thank Anpario enough for their generosity. By donating £10,000, the single largest amount to-date we have received, they have contributed almost a third of our overall stretch target of £35,000, allowing us to get work underway much earlier than anticipated.
“In Doncaster and Bassetlaw we are so fortunate to have a number of major and multi-national manufacturers and distributors right on our doorstep. Their presence not only presents fantastic employment opportunities for local people, but local NHS organisations have also benefited from their generosity and largesse throughout the past number of years and for that we are truly appreciative.
“From every member of Team DBTH we want to thank Anpario for supporting their local hospitals and NHS heroes, particularly during these extraordinary times.”
While numbers are starting to show a steady decline, DBTH has cared for almost 700 patients with Covid-19 since March, safely discharging 440 individuals, while 223 local people have sadly passed away due to complications related to the disease.
If you wish to support the Rainbow Garden’s appeal you can donate on the Just Giving Page: https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/doncaster-bassetlaw or contact the fundraising team on 01302 644244.