Rotherham United and the club’s Community Sports Trust were honoured to help mark the 72nd birthday of the NHS – which falls on Sunday 5th July 2020 – with a special delivery of gifts for staff and patients at Rotherham District General Hospital.
Having been in touch to co-ordinate a safe visit prior to their arrival, staff from the club’s community department were on hand with 50 Rotherham United-tailored bags of gifts which included scarves, RUFC Legends card games and soft toy replicas of our mascot Miller Bear.
RUCST staff Richard Williams, Gary Bricknell, Dan Fitzpatrick and Stuart Wildridge delivered the care packs to Rotherham District General Hospital.
In addition to the Millers memorabilia, there were boxes of biscuits, bouquets of flowers and chocolate which were handed over to staff on various wards and the hospital’s A&E department.
This gesture was our way of saying thank you to some amazing people in our community because we recognise that without their incredible sacrifice, the last few months would have been so much more difficult.
We have tried to play our part as best we can as a football club and are incredibly proud of the work done by the Community Sports Trust, who have been supporting the NHS during the COVID-19 outbreak by making calls to elderly and vulnerable members of our community, dropping off shopping and medication, whilst trying to ensure the mental well-being of those struggling through these difficult times.
Representatives from across the club will tonight join in the loudest applause for the NHS yet, which will take place at 5pm and will help to mark this fantastic organisation’s 72nd birthday.
Many of our supporters either work at Rotherham District General Hospital or are employed by the NHS, and as you will have seen in our continued efforts to update our ‘key workers’ story, we are so, so proud to have people like them amongst our fan base.
Head of Community Jamie Noble, who organised the creating and delivery of these special Millers ‘care packs’ was delighted to be able to facilitate the gift exchange for an organisation that he believes have been at the forefront of our battle against the COVID-19 outbreak.
“The handing over of these gifts was a way we thought that we could show our appreciation to the amazing individuals who have worked so tirelessly and selflessly, putting themselves at risk for the good of others over the last few months,” he told www.themillers.co.uk.
“The sacrifices made by everyone in the NHS is something that will never be forgotten by us here at Rotherham United, but beyond that, I don’t think anyone ever will.
“It can be easy to take the work of those individuals in hospitals and other organisations for granted, but I think the COVID-19 outbreak has highlighted just how special these people are. Care giving professions require a certain type of person and I think only now we understand just how self-sacrificing the staff are.
“We know that ours is only a small gesture, but one we hope will reaffirm just how much we do appreciate everything that the NHS has done and continues to do for our community here in Rotherham.
“It is safe to say that without the contribution of all of our key workers, we would not be seeing lockdown measures easing and signs of the world returning to something like we knew it before.
“I speak on behalf of everyone at the football club when I say, thank you and happy birthday. You have been, and continue to be, amazing.”
To find out more about the health programmes being run by our Community Sports Trust you can contact Emma Schofield on 01709 927767 or by email on eschofield@rotherhamunited.net.