NRS Healthcare promotes community equipment return service during fundraising ‘bed push’
Staff from independent living aids manufacturer NRS Healthcare in Southampton took to the city centre over the weekend to raise money for a cause close to their hearts.
The team, Dave Jenkins, Stuart Betts, Mark Pollard, Ali O’ Hara, Mike Cutler and Neil Thacker completed a ‘bed push’, physically pushing an NRS’ community bed through the shopping area of Bargate, Southampton, in aid of Southampton Hospitals Charity, which helps to enhance the care and treatment of patients at University Hospital Southampton.
Mike Cutler, NRS Service Manager in Southampton, said: “The bed push was excellent, and we were delighted to raise just short of £500 from the two hours collecting in the city centre.
Overall, the team raised £2,880 for the charity.
Particularly keen to raise funds for the paediatric unit, the team were delighted to be joined by the Lord Mayor, Councillor Jacqui Rayment, Southampton City Council Commissioner Paul Frampton and Sammy the hospital mascot, who proved extremely popular with people of all ages.
NRS driver technicians often deliver specialised paediatric equipment to homes and schools, and leave ‘touched’ by the dedication of the parents and staff who care for children with severe disabilities. As so many children benefit from the specialist service at the Children’s Hospital, the team wanted to ensure that funds were raised for this cause.
Mike continues: “As well as wanting to raise money for such a great cause, we also took the opportunity to hand out some NRS pens and trolley keyrings which were very popular and talk to people about how they can return any community equipment they no longer need, so that it can be used by others.
“A few people we chatted to said how amazing it was to have equipment for their loved ones so that they can stay in their own homes. I was immensely proud to be a part of this. The team in Southampton really do go above and beyond.”
The team were supported by Paul Frampton, the Commissioner for Community Equipment in Southampton, Jacqui Rayment, the Lord Mayor of Southampton and Ray Southam (aka Sammy the Bear) from Southampton’s Children’s Hospital.
Ali O’ Hara, Clinical Regional Manager for NRS, organised the event. She said: “It was an amazing and uplifting to see the generosity of the people of Southampton.
“I’d like to thank everyone from Southampton who supported the event and the mayor who took time out of an impossibly busy day and is a remarkable ambassador for her charities and also to Ray Southam, who coordinated the event from the children’s hospital charity and came along as Sammy the mascot.
“Thank you also to Paul Frampton, Southampton Commissioner, who attended. We look forward to continuing our collaborative working with both health and social care.”
Recently, NRS Healthcare was recognised for its outstanding learning in HRH The Princess Royal’s training awards. To find out more about donations visit the Just Giving page.
