Throughout COVID, Matt's presence has been nothing short of a miracle.
24th November 2020
Submitted by Karen Bush, Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
When lockdown happened, Matt Long was no longer able to undertake his regular role working at the airport and so offered his time and support where he felt it was needed most, his local NHS hospital, and we honestly couldn’t have managed without him.
Most hospitals have their own Charity, and ours like many others was absolutely overwhelmed by the generosity of the public providing donations for patients and staff in our hospitals. They all had to be coordinated and distributed and Matt's support was invaluable. Day after day, he helped with donations of sometimes really heavy items, never wavering and always cheerful as he helped to deliver them to staff across the site.
As one of the team said:
“Matt was nothing short of extraordinary. During what was a tremendously demanding period, his presence was both a blessing and relief. Matt worked incredibly hard to support us and to support the wellbeing of staff across the Trust, delivering provisions. He always brought a smile to our faces, despite the pressures we all faced. Matt demonstrated just how invaluable volunteers are for all, and is a true inspiration.”
It's not just Matt we have to thank. On Nurses Day, Matt's two children aged 3 and 6 (aided by Mum) had been continuously baking to provide our nursing staff with delicious cakes to keep them going. We cannot tell you how much we valued his support.
Thank you so much Matt – you truly deserve to be on the wall of fame!
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