A Thorough-ly good idea
A FULHAM businessman has enlisted the help of professional footballers, Psychic Sally and an ice cream seller to feed hundreds of vulnerable and elderly people.
Alan Thoroughgood, owner of luxury chauffeuring company Di Lusso Travel, teamed up with old friends who have also turned their businesses to delivering food packages during the lockdown.
Mr Thoroughgood, Bobby Drewett, Jamie Hoult and Jordan Ball have set up West London Covid-19 Support – what could be described as a mobile food bank – and have raised £5,000 so far.
Among their supporters are Fulham Football Club’s Marcus Bettinelli, Chelsea’s Mason Mount, former Fulham player Ross McCormack, Chelsea assistant coach Jody Morris and TV’s psychic Sally Morgan, a Fulham resident.
They are taking their deliveries around West London in Mr Thoroughgood’s luxury cars, as well as Mr Ball’s Boh&Bees ice cream van, and vehicles Mr Hoult would normally use to transport bouncy castles.
“We have delivered 700 food bags to elderly and disabled people so far,” said Mr Thoroughgood, 39.
Asked how they launched the scheme, he said: “As you can imagine, we all work in businesses that have had to completely stop so our diaries are clear.
“We’re used to doing charity events. When Grenfell happened Jamie and I did a massive collection.
“But we were looking at a local Facebook group and saw a photo of an old man looking at an empty supermarket shelf.”
They made their cause known via social media where, combined, they have about 15,000 followers.
“We asked people to donate excess stuff they had bought like toilet roll and pasta, but then we started asking for donations and we got a lot more,” said Mr Thoroughgood.
“We have been going to wholesale shops for the food and places like Costco. We’re delivering every morning and people have been getting in touch with us on Facebook to tell us about people who need help.”
He recalls visiting an 81-year-old woman with no relatives in the UK.
“We were told by a GP surgery in Shepherd’s Bush about this woman. I rang her and she said all her family were in New Zealand. This woman was completely stranded, it was desperate. I honestly think some people might die of hunger if the virus doesn’t get them.”
The group is covering a vast area, with people getting in touch from Wandsworth to Shepherd’s Bush. But volunteers have also delivered to Leatherhead in Surrey – some 36 miles from Fulham.
“If someone rings us and they are desperate, we’ll definitely go to them,” he said.
To continue their work across the area, they now need more money.
“We have raised about £5,000 but to keep on we are going to need another £5,000 or £7,000,” said Mr Thoroughgood. He also gave a shout out to Stephen Adams, the manager of Waitrose in Fulham Palace Road who donated £2,500 of stock.
The four friends set up a GoFundMe page on Saturday last week. To make a donation, visit https://gf.me/u/xuwr82
To find out more about West London Covid-19 Support, visit https:// www.facebook.com/wlc19s