A NORTH Berwick business has helped a nurse to win a hotel stay anywhere in the world in appreciation of her efforts in the battle against Covid-19 and raising thousands of pounds for patient care packages.<\/p>\n
Alison Williams, a research nurse at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, was nominated in the holiday competition by Rock My World Travel of North Berwick.<\/p>\n
The 41-year-old Edinburgh resident, who visited North Berwick on holidays as a child, has been branded a superhero after raising more than 29,000 in her campaign to create Rainbow Boxes for patients.<\/p>\n
The campaign started after Alison witnessed first-hand that several patients had few personal items as family members were unable to visit them, so did not have basic items such as pyjamas and toiletries.<\/p>\n
She said: A lot of people were being admitted in emergency situations so they didnt have and were missing essential items, from nightwear to phone chargers.<\/p>\n
She added that other initiatives aimed to help nurses, whereas this specifically helped patients.<\/p>\n
The mum of two, who studied at Napier University and qualified in 2001, then came up with the idea to get these items to the patients and launched a campaign on a local Facebook group, Edinburgh Gossip Girls, with the original aim of raising 500 to create the boxes.<\/p>\n
To date the total stands at more than 29,300, with a further 25,000 donated from RBS, bringing the total raised to more than 50,0000.<\/p>\n
Alison said: The 500 target was smashed in a few minutes.<\/p>\n
She now has a small team of people supporting her.<\/p>\n
She added: We have enough money to last until October but hopefully things will be back to normal [by then] and people can come in on visits and the need wont be as great.<\/p>\n
Boxes are delivered to all 60 wards in the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, as well as nearby hospices and the East Lothian Community Hospital in Haddington.<\/p>\n
Her campaign, alongside her job as a nurse and working during the current coronavirus crisis, led to her being nominated in the holiday competition by Rock My World Travel.<\/p>\n
The competition was featured in Travel Weekly, a travel industry trade magazine, and run by travel company Stuba, in recognition of the hard work of local heroes who have emerged during the pandemic.<\/p>\n
People were in with a chance of winning a 300 hotel voucher. Alison was one of 20 national winners.<\/p>\n
Isobel McCardie, who runs Rock My World Travel alongside her husband Mark, nominated Alison.<\/p>\n
Isobel, who lives in North Berwick, said: When I saw what Alison was doing, it instantly resonated with me.<\/p>\n
Not only was she on the frontline fighting Covid-19, but her compassion for the patients inspired her to go further.<\/p>\n
As soon as I saw the competition, I instantly thought of Alison. She has been completely selfless in this entire task and is working tirelessly, I cant think of anyone who deserves a break more.<\/p>\n
On the nomination, Alison said: I only knew about it when she phoned me and told me Id won. Its really nice that someone who doesnt know me nominated me. Its amazing and flattering.<\/p>\n
Alison plans to take her colleague Rachel, who has been working tirelessly to help Alison with her campaign.<\/p>\n
When asked if she had decided where to go, Alison said: Im not wanting to go too far. Ill possibly go somewhere in Scotland.<\/p>\n
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Nurse's Covid-19 efforts win hotel stay anywhere in the world - East Lothian Courier<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" A NORTH Berwick business has helped a nurse to win a hotel stay anywhere in the world in appreciation of her efforts in the battle against Covid-19 and raising thousands of pounds for patient care packages. Alison Williams, a research nurse at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, was nominated in the holiday competition by Rock My World Travel of North Berwick Continue reading