[Other Sport] Raising money for the NHS

[midnight_rendezvous]

Mods please delete if not appropriate...


I was due to take part in my first marathon next weekend (Manchester) and then, a few weeks later, my second in Brighton. That's not happening anymore due to the current situation we find ourselves in.

So, I've decided I'm going to put my training to good use and run around the block as many times as it takes to reach a full marathon distance. Rather silly right? Well I'm also going to try and raise money for our wonderful NHS. Any donation you can give would be greatly appreciated. JustGiving link down below.

In these here strange times, stay safe and look after yourselves.

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/thomas-budgen3

 

[The Andy Naylor Fan Club]

Done.

 

[midnight_rendezvous]

Done.

Very kind of you

UTA

 

[jonnyrovers]

I desperately don't want to sound cynical here as I think supporting a worthy cause through fundraising is an amazing and incredibly altruistic act. All I'll say is that healthcare is incredibly expensive and vast amounts of money can be vaporised in a millisecond. If you would like your donation to benefit patients it's really difficult to dictate how that happens. If you'd like your donation to benefit services it will barely make a bump. If you'd like to help staff then don't give your money to the NHS, give it to a frontline staff wellbeing charity like https://www.theasc.org.uk who provide debriefs and PTSD treatments to ambulance staff. There are similar organisations for all healthcare professions and the difference your money makes will be felt. Or just buy the local critical care unit a television for the break room...

 

[jabba]

There was a news item about hospital staff having an Amazon "wish-list" of things they needed. Phone charger stuck in my mind but there would be many others I guess. I wonder how wide-spread this is? Is a great way of saying a personal thanks to an individual on the front-line.

 

[goldstone]

I desperately don't want to sound cynical here as I think supporting a worthy cause through fundraising is an amazing and incredibly altruistic act. All I'll say is that healthcare is incredibly expensive and vast amounts of money can be vaporised in a millisecond. If you would like your donation to benefit patients it's really difficult to dictate how that happens. If you'd like your donation to benefit services it will barely make a bump. If you'd like to help staff then don't give your money to the NHS, give it to a frontline staff wellbeing charity like https://www.theasc.org.uk who provide debriefs and PTSD treatments to ambulance staff. There are similar organisations for all healthcare professions and the difference your money makes will be felt. Or just buy the local critical care unit a television for the break room...

I would agree. Under no circumstances donate anything to the NHS. They'll probably end up throwing it out.

 

[Knocky's Nose]

I must say I've always silently raised an eyebrow whenever I've seen money being raised for equipment at hospitals, and even the NHS in general.

Morally and practically, it's a good thing - no doubt, but isn't that the job of the government to buy equipment for it's own hospitals. We all pay National Insurance for that, don't we? Imagine if we were all raising money for ladders and wellies for the Fire Brigade, or warm coats and decent boots for the Army? Wouldn't that make us look a bit.. welll.. incompetent?

Donate things to the staff maybe? They get paid bollocks all compared to how much they should really earn. My best friend's ex-wife got a £15,000 bonus last year from a large retail chain for making lots of money buying kitchen and toilet rolls (yes, I know.. the irony) for them. My wife got a £5 Costa voucher for running an Intensive Care Unit at the local DGH...

Anyway, I'm ready to be flamed - but that's my opinion. Fair play to the OP for getting off his arse and wanting to do something though. Respect.

 

[Lower West Stander]

I don’t agree with the OP’s political views at all but for goodness sake give the guy a break.

He’s making a real effort to do something proactive and positive. Give him some support and encouragement rather than criticising and telling him what he should be doing. That will achieve nothing at the moment - if you want to be negative go and watch BBC News.

The NHS needs all the help it can get at the moment. From everyone.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

I must say I've always silently raised an eyebrow whenever I've seen money being raised for equipment at hospitals, and even the NHS in general.

Morally and practically, it's a good thing - no doubt, but isn't that the job of the government to buy equipment for it's own hospitals. We all pay National Insurance for that, don't we? Imagine if we were all raising money for ladders and wellies for the Fire Brigade, or warm coats and decent boots for the Army? Wouldn't that make us look a bit.. welll.. incompetent?

Donate things to the staff maybe? They get paid bollocks all compared to how much they should really earn. My best friend's ex-wife got a £15,000 bonus last year from a large retail chain for making lots of money buying kitchen and toilet rolls (yes, I know.. the irony) for them. My wife got a £5 Costa voucher for running an Intensive Care Unit at the local DGH...

Anyway, I'm ready to be flamed - but that's my opinion. Fair play to the OP for getting off his arse and wanting to do something though. Respect.

No flames from me, mate.

This is where I turn red in tooth and claw.

We have a socialist nationalised NHS and education system, and have had this since the war. This is anathema to true tories. If I were conservative I'd oppose it. But we have it and even curren conservatives pay lip service to it. Many (possibly the majority) actually believe in it, albeit with reservations about....the costs.

It is and should be fully funded from taxes. The government should direct whatever money is needed. Full stop. Charity can be used as a sign of affection and thanks to NHS staff. A gift. NOT a means of paying for missing kit.

On another thread I mused whether COVID might not be disruptive and a trigger to change the way we think and act. Maybe one thing I'd hope to see change is this idea that the best amount of tax we should pay is no tax, and the consensus even among left parties (ironically except Corbyn labour - and I hated Corbyn) that spending tax payers' money to employ vast numbers of administrators tasked with finding ways of making the NHS more cost ****ing effective, to save money, is a plan. It isn't a plan. It is an abomination and a disgrace. School and health. FFS.

Apologies to the OP (lovely fellah, judging by his posts over the years) for this rant, and I say that as someone who is active (Mrs T, the whatsapp queen moreso) in our local network to support vulnerable neighbours right now (not sulking and waiting to be bailed out). I'll check back later to see if you're still doing this and if you are I'll certainly bung your cause some dosh.

 

[portslade seagull]

I believe the country as a whole should petition the government to give the Doctors and Nurses along with the Ambulance crews and Hospital cleaners a worthwhile rise to show how much they are appreciated

 

[southstandandy]

I believe the country as a whole should petition the government to give the Doctors and Nurses along with the Ambulance crews and Hospital cleaners a worthwhile rise to show how much they are appreciated

Some proper equipment would be useful for a start. On Saturday my sister was on the front line in Acute Medical and had to take her husband's builders mask and her own swimming goggles for use on her ward round. They have enough gloves and aprons but I can't believe it has some to doctor's having to take such extreme measures. And No - I'm not making this up. She's just about to start a 10 day (12hrs per day shift) from tomorrow too. And I thought I worked hard just doing 55hrs a week.

 

[Yes Chef]

http://Helpthemhelpus.co.uk

Without wanting to interfere with this thread too much, this might be a place to direct donations

 

[portslade seagull]

Some proper equipment would be useful for a start. On Saturday my sister was on the front line in Acute Medical and had to take her husband's builders mask and her own swimming goggles for use on her ward round. They have enough gloves and aprons but I can't believe it has some to doctor's having to take such extreme measures. And No - I'm not making this up. She's just about to start a 10 day (12hrs per day shift) from tomorrow too. And I thought I worked hard just doing 55hrs a week.

My niece is an Ambulance driver and had to order her own masks online