A father whose son is able to walk after spina bifida surgery at King’s has launched a £100,000 campaign to feed the NHS.
Forty-three-year-old Oliver Bailey, from Dulwich, has set up ‘Harvest for Heroes’ to deliver fruit, veg, milk and pasta to London hospitals including King’s in Denmark Hill and its other sites.
His son, Henry, was unexpectedly born with spina bifida in 2018. After a seven-hour operation he is now growing up able to walk.
“I can never thank the staff enough for their care,” he says. “Over the past few weeks, I’d seen stories of NHS workers left with empty supermarket shelves at the end of their shift, and I wanted to do something to help.
“The Harvest for Heroes campaign delivers healthy and nutritious food supplies, sourced from New Covent Garden Market, to hospitals throughout London. We’re aiming to raise £100,000 to help NHS staff stay healthy and well.
“This is my opportunity to do my bit and show the NHS how much we all care. I’m sure the community will come together and show their support for NHS staff who are pulling out all the stops to keep everyone safe.”
Bassel Zebian, the consultant paediatric and adult neurosurgeon who treated Henry said: “We are delighted to hear that Henry is doing so well and that he has fully recovered from his surgery.
“Words cannot express our gratitude to his whole family for sharing his recovery with us, and for their support in these difficult times.
“Over the past few weeks I have been filled with pride and humbled by the passion, hard work and selflessness of all those around me who have rallied together in the face of great adversity.
“Everyone is working round the clock to deliver care in new ways amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, and knowing that staff don’t have to worry about going to the shops after long shifts makes a huge difference.
“We truly cannot thank our local community and all those supporting us – on the ground as well as through initiatives such as this one – for their kindness.”
To support the Harvest for Heroes campaign, visit https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/harvestforheroes
