MISSION SECURES FACE MASKS Charity out to cut fears

KNOWING the threat vulnerable communities face during the coronavirus outbreak has prompted a small charity to help limit the risk of infection.

Chimera Legacy Foundation has ordered 3000 disposable face masks to donate to local medical charities to support those most at risk of catching coronavirus.

Damien Thompson started the charity six months ago as a way to give back to the medical world after battling leukaemia for more than a decade.

Mr Thompson said he understood the fear people were living with during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Three weeks ago we noticed the shortage (of masks) all over the news and social media so I called around and quickly learnt that everywhere was having problems,” he said.

“I know what the anxiety is like living with the threat of infection and I know after speaking with a lot of people that they are really anxious.”

Chimera Legacy Foundation presented 2000 face masks to the Leukaemia Foundation and Ronald Mcdonald House Charities in Townsville this week. The charity also supplied 1000 masks to the QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute in Brisbane.

Leukaemia Foundation CEO Bill Petch said the support from Chimera Legacy Foundation was invaluable during the pandemic.

“The reality is our organisation is relying now more than ever on the generosity of Australians and we deeply appreciate any support through this time,” he said.

Chimera Legacy Foundation called upon Townsvillefounded import company Incodocs to help source the face masks.

Incodocs founder Ben Thompson said the special order was not an easy task and they had to call many factory contacts overseas.

“There is so much overwhelming demand from all around the world for factories to supply these products,” he said. “We wanted to make sure people in North Queensland could have access to these products and not to be swallowed up by the bigger cities.”