In all, on 3 December over 60 stars of all shapes and sizes lit up across the buildings which make up Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals. In order to comply with current Covid-19 restrictions, the switch-on was undertaken during a virtual event hosted by Trust Chair, Suzy Brain England OBE, with over 12,000 local people having tuned in since it was hosted on the organisation’s Facebook page late last week.
The festive campaign has only been made possible with the support of over 60 local businesses, organisations and families, who have paid from £300 to £1,500 to sponsor a star. The headline sponsor, DFS, have committed £10,000, and in the process have helped to raise over £30,000 which will be directly reinvested into patient care, treatment and facilities, as well as some Christmas gifts for those staying at the hospital over the seasonal period.
Speaking about the switch-on, Suzy, said: “It has been a long-held ambition for our Trust to cover our hospitals in star light throughout December, in order to celebrate the seasonal period. This year, with the help of over 60 local families and organisations, we’ve made this dream a reality – raising over £30,000 for our patient services and facilities in the process.
“Given the year we have had, we felt this was a fitting tribute to our NHS and social care heroes, as well as those we have lost to Covid-19. I hope this will bring a little bit of light, positivity and optimism to people as we head towards to the holiday period.
“We know that many local people have asked how they can support us throughout the festive period as well as get involved with this star campaign. As such, we have also provided the opportunity for individuals and families to sponsor and dedicate a digital star, for any sum, brightening a cyber night sky – to do so just search ‘DBTH Visufund’ on your search engine of choice.”
Sponsors for this campaign include a number of generous local families, individuals and schools, as well as the following businesses and organisations: Greencore, Polypipe, DAC Beachcroft, Ye Olde Bell, Tusker Direct, University of Sheffield, RJ Electricals, OLS Ltd, Star Commercials, Doncaster Chamber, the Fred and Ann Green Legacy Fund, Doncaster College, Prospect Hill Post Office, Doncaster Council, National Fluid Centre, NHS Doncaster and Bassetlaw Clinical Commissioning Groups, XPO Logistics, NMC Group, HIRD, AMH Accountancy, Quayside Childcare, Pacy and Wheatley, SYS Ltd, Instastop, NHS Professionals, The Crucible Trading Company, Companionate Care Team, Marketing Labs, Slimming World Dearne Valley, National Kidney Federation and Transave.
Colleagues at DBTH would also like to thank HIRD for donating the cherry pickers required for hanging the various decorations, and DKW Ltd for all of their hard work in helping to make this project possible.
Suzy continues: “Finally, and on behalf of everyone at Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals, I wish you a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year.”
To sponsor a virtual star visit https://visufund.com/nhs-christmas-stars
If you have any questions about how you can support DBTH, you can contact the Fundraising and Communications Team on 01302 644244 / dbth.charity@nhs.net