Jenny Donnelly, a specialist safeguarding nurse for child exploitation at Lancashire Care Foundation Trust, and Melissa Heslop, a second year student nurse at Birmingham City University, met comedian Russell Howard earlier this week.
“It’s heart-warming to see nurses coming together and supporting each other”
Russell Howard
The nurses won the opportunity through a prize draw run by Cavell Nurses’ Trust, a charity supporting nurses, midwives and healthcare assistants experiencing financial hardship.
Ms Donnelly and Ms Heslop were randomly selected in the draw of all the fundraisers who took part in the ‘10k their way’, as part of the charity’s #10kForNurses fundraising campaign to raise vital funds for nursing colleagues facing severe difficulties.
The winning pair were both part of a nursing team who took on the #10kFroNurses Snowdon challenge in October last year, in which members of the Nursing Times team also took part.
The charity noted that when the nurses took on Snowdon, the team were faced with driving rain and strong winds as Storm Callum swept across Wales. Though it added, they were “determined to make a difference” to the lives of their nursing counterparts.
Russell Howard donated the meet and greet to the charity as a prize. It took place on Tuesday in a special recording of The Russell Howard Hour.
According to the charity, he has “spoken out about his strong support of the NHS and how he admires the incredible dedication of doctors and nurses fighting against budget cuts and staff shortages”.
The comedian said: “It was fantastic to meet Jenny and Melissa, it’s so wonderful that there is a charity dedicated to ensuring that the UK’s nursing staff have somewhere to turn to in times of need.
“It’s also heart-warming to see nurses coming together and supporting each other,” he added.
The charity claimed that during 2018, 3,300 people sought help from the Cavell Nurses’ Trust – a 50% increase on 2017.
Anyone wishing to sign-up to the #10kForNurses 2019 campaign can visit the charity’s website.
10k for nurses 2018 snowdon trek
https://www.nursingtimes.net/news/workforce/nurses-fundraising-for-struggling-colleagues-meet-top-comedian/7027471.article