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Students inspired by Covid patient’s story

Posted onPosted on 26th Jul

School students have been inspired to raise money for a hospital after the coronavirus pandemic hit close to home.

Their fundraising for a television and stand for the Sutton hospital’s Critical Care Unit (CCU) was prompted by the story of George Paterson, the husband of receptionist Tonia Paterson at their Samworth Church Academy.

George became the final patient suffering from Covid-19 to leave the unit after spending 115 days in intensive care — as reported by the News Journal earlier this year — and continues to receive treatment at King’s Mill.

Sharon Bassett, education welfare officer at the Mansfield academy, organised various events for the fundraising, including a surprise visit to the hospital by Mansfield Town FC manager Nigel Clough to brighten football fan George’s day. 

Students undertook a 115-lap relay, covering 34,500 metres, to raise further funds towards their goal.

“I was inspired by Tonia, who on the darkest of days showed such strength and courage to come to work; being a role model for her two daughters and holding the family together,” said Sharon.

“I felt that we, as a school, needed to pay something back for Tonia’s commitment to the academy, and the best way to do that would be to raise funds for Kings’ Mill Hospital’s NHS Heroes, on behalf of us all.

“By linking the 115 days George spent in CCU to completing 115 laps round the academy track, we hope to raise enough money to reach our goal. 

“The reaction and support from the students has blown me away and we need help to keep this momentum going by asking the community to support us.

“We know that many people want to say thank you to NHS staff and to support the patients who are in their care. We hope that if people can, that they support our campaign to give a small token in return and support our students in their fundraising run.”

The academy has set up a JustGiving page for anyone wishing to support the effort at www.justgiving.com/fundraising/thesamworthchurchacademyforkmh

Sharon said she also wanted to organise something for George and thanked the football club and head of media and communications, Mark Stevenson, for arranging Nigel Clough’s visit.

“The club were fantastic, Nigel gave his time generously and George’s reaction was priceless,” she added

Tonia said: “George is doing really well; he sees physiotherapists twice a day and is working hard to be able to get home.

“He was absolutely over the moon that Nigel took the time to visit him, he was so thrilled he never stopped talking about it all night to the nurses.”