PUT A HEART IN THE RAINBOW FOR KEY WORKERS The Countess Charity’s latest fundraising initiative is The Rainbow, in partnership with the British Ironwork Centre. A large structure will be built in the shape of a rainbow to commemorate and remember all key workers who worked so hard during the COVID-19 pandemic. The sculpture, comprising of thousands of multi-coloured hearts, will be displayed on site. Lesley Woodhead, Head of Fundraising, said: “We have all loved seeing the rainbows on display in windows, on roundabouts and on t-shirts so we thought it would be a great fundraising idea to create something that will last. “Our good friends at Medicash are sponsoring the structure and we are inviting everyone to buy one or more of the thousands of hearts we need in the colour of their choice. “We have had great support from our community, NHS staff, patients, local companies and schools. Everyone is welcome to sponsor a heart in The Rainbow.” Funds raised by this project will go towards our Blue Skies Balcony Appeal which will build an outside space in the form of a balcony for ICU. Sue Weir, Chief Executive of Medicash, said: “Medicash has enjoyed a long-standing relationship with the Countess and is
excited about our next project with them – The Medicash Rainbow. The Rainbow is a symbol of hope and something that everyone can get involved with. It’s a simple way of giving back. Now, more than ever, we all appreciate our health and the work that everyone at the Countess does to support us.” Clive Knowles, Chairman, British Ironwork Centre, said: “This is a design that is so of the moment, with the country in crisis and the NHS protecting every one of us from the virus. We are honoured and delighted to undertake this project for the Countess of Chester and will ensure it’s beautiful.” Each heart can be sponsored for a minimum of £10, with everyone who buys heart being sent a favour to keep in their purse or pocket of the colour they choose: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo or violet. Lesley added: “We hope to complete the Rainbow in the summer of 2021. If you can’t choose one colour – choose more!” Ways to put a heart in The Rainbow You can pay online or via cheque. Cheques should be made payable to The Countess Charity and posted to: The Countess Charity Countess of Chester Hospital Liverpool Road Chester CH2 1UL Pay online at: https://www.justgiving.com/ fundraising/putaheartinourrainbow2020
Dr Simon Ridler holds up his heart for The Rainbow
Blue Skies Balcony Appeal update Fundraising continues for a new balcony area to be built next to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). The Blue Skies Balcony Appeal is raising £500,000 to create this openair extension, which will be used for rehabilitation and therapy, giving patients some welcome fresh air and a break from being on the unit. The therapeutic benefits of being outdoors are proven to not only be calming for patients, but also foster improved clinical outcomes – such as reducing pain medication and shortening hospital stays. Dr Simon Ridler, the Consultant leading the project, said: “The ability to get our patients outside, however briefly, and expose them to natural light will go a long way towards improving their outcomes and their experience of critical care. Having this facility will make it much easier and safer to transfer patients outside and will potentially allow several patients to use the facility each day. It will put us in the avant-garde of intensive care units in our region.” ICU has historically been a very isolated and private unit due to safety and infection control. It is now believed that the clinical risks of taking a patient outside are no greater than moving their treatment to another part of the hospital, with the required life support and patient consent. Lesley Woodhead, Head of Fundraising, said: “Thank you to everyone who has given their support to this appeal so far. Taking patients outside and giving them an experience of what they have been missing is a simple but powerful way of providing these benefits.”
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