Instead of awards, Herts help out with vital PPE equipment
By ALAN THATCHER – Squash Mad Editor
It’s always good to hear about squash players going the extra mile to help their local communities during the Coronavirus pandemic.
It’s a real pleasure to receive some news from Paul Main about an extra-special initiative taking place in Hertfordshire which is providing much needed equipment for a local hospice and neurological care centre.
Paul writes:
The squash calendar has been suspended but it hasn’t stopped Herts Squash doing something positive with its time by donating hundreds of face masks to local organisations in need.
While the winter season had been completed before the shutdown the county committee have taken the decision to forego its usual awards ceremony and instead spend the money it would usually expend on awards, on much needed face masks.
Kim Mansfield, Herts Squash Chair, said: “Initially we considered making a monetary donation to the NHS charity, but one of our committee suggested that we approached a local squash player whose company is involved in supplying vital PPE to do something more direct and he was delighted to help out.”
“The request from Herts Squash came out of the blue and I was delighted to facilitate their request”, Antony Di Blasio, CEO of Special Wear (pictured), said. “People are aware of PPE shortages and I knew several organisations desperate for face masks so I was happy to do my bit.”
Lucy Hume, Joint Fundraising Director from The Hospice of St Francis in Berkhamsted said: “Our need for PPE so that we can continue caring for patients is not going away any time soon, so we are incredibly grateful to Herts Squash and Special Wear for thinking of us. Knowing that we have the support of wonderful local organisations and businesses like these means so much to us all at the Hospice.”
Similarly, Kay Kaur-Pressley, Head of Support Services at the Sue Ryder Neurological Care Centre in Stagenhoe said: “We are extremely grateful to the Herts Squash for their very generous donation of PPE.
“This will ensure that we continue to operate our neurological centre as safely as possible within the current situation and that our staff and residents feel reassured.”
Stagenhoe is a Sue Ryder specialist care centre, caring for people aged 18 and over with a range of neurological conditions such as Huntington’s Disease, Parkinson’s and Multiple Sclerosis.
+ Squash Mad would like to echo the sentiments of those above and send our congratulations to all those involved at Herts Squash. If any other clubs or counties are involved in similar projects, please let us know.
Pictures courtesy of Paul Main