Local Pharmacist Is Running A Marathon A Week In Fundraising Drive
Raising money to provide PPE to protect Care Home key workers
Rishi Bhatia, from local pharmacy chain Scorah Chemists, has pledged to run 105 miles during May, the equivalent of one marathon each week to raise money to purchase vital Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for key workers in 13 care homes around the Stockport area. He hopes to raise £2,500 with his efforts and 100% of the monies raised will be used to purchase essential PPE for care home key workers, his initial target of £1,000 was reached in the first few days of fundraising and so his new target is to raise £2,500.
“I felt compelled to take on this fundraising challenge after hearing about the actual death rate in care homes and also from speaking to the key workers on the ground,” says Rishi, Superintendent Pharmacist at Scorah Chemists. “Though I enjoy running distances of around 5km to 10km, I have certainly never run this kind of distance in a month! I’m looking forward to the challenge and to raising funds to help frontline key workers in the local area.”
“Rishi has been a partner and friend to Borough Care Ltd for many years. He works tirelessly to ensure that our residents have all the medication they require to keep them fighting fit. As well as guiding us on how to improve our medication systems, during the current pandemic, he has also helped staff by providing us with supplies of toiletries for our residents,” says Val Egan, Head of Care at Borough Care.
She continues, “He has always been a great supporter and advocate for Borough Care, so we were full of admiration, but not surprised, when he announced that he intended to complete a marathon every week in the month of May to help raise funds for us and other local homes he supports. His hope is that we can all use the money raised to purchase additional and vital PPE. I am filled with pride that Rishi has taken on this challenge for the vulnerable people he cares for. He is an inspiration and I wish him great success in his endeavours.”
The PPE supplied will protect both key workers and also vulnerable patients by providing the following: face masks, gloves and gowns.
Scorah Chemists have two stores in Stockport, located in Bramhall and Hazel Grove. Through these two stores they are currently reaching hundreds of vulnerable customers by delivering prescriptions to their homes free of charge and also provide medication to 13 care homes in the area.
JustGiving link: www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/rishi-bhatia
