Stars aid medics in fund fight for masks

Actor Cox leads line-up of celebrities as fundraisers exceed £200,000 target

A Tayside campaign to equip frontline health workers across Scotland has smashed through its £200,000 target – with help from some celebrity friends.

Hollywood actors Brian Cox, Alan Cumming and Peter Mullan were among a galaxy of stars who backed the Masks For Scotland appeal, launched this month by Dundee University’s Professor Jill Belch.

The campaign was set up to buy personal protective equipment (PPE) for medical teams up and down the country.

It prompted an online get-together of well-known performers, famous faces and writers including Annie Lennox, Judy Murray, KT Tunstall, Sir Chris Hoy and Ian Rankin.

The livestream, which brought in donations from as far afield as America and New Zealand, was hosted by broadcaster Edith Bowman.

This week, organisers were able to deliver boxes upon boxes of masks and goggles to Perth Royal Infirmary.

Jill said she was thrilled to reach the £200,000 target, but insisted the campaign would continue.

Yesterday afternoon, the total was sitting at just over £220,000, following a £50K donation from X Men star James Mcavoy.

“We are absolutely blown away,” said Jill. “We really owe Edith Bowman a huge thanks for organising the For The Love of Scotland concert.

“We doubled our money in eight hours.

“What a great place Scotland is, truly generous.”

She said: “In terms of the money raised, until now we had been focusing on face protection: masks and goggles.

“This huge amount will now allow us to purchase more face protection, but also much needed gowns for our medical teams in Scotland.”

Jill said: “The medical teams who protect us must be protected too.

“We know that the bigger the viral load, the worse the disease. Day in, day out, these teams are exposed to very high viral loads.

“We must help save their lives, the lives of their families and their patients by providing correct PPE.”

She thanked everyone who has so far supported the appeal.

Edith Bowman, who described Professor Belch as “formidable”, told her Instagram followers: “So emotional and grateful and proud of you and everyone who was part of our livestream.

“You are saving lives.”

Masks For Scotland is working with two other charities: Med Supply Drive Scotland and Visup+ which is making visors for frontline workers including police and carers.

Voicing his support for the Masks appeal, Succession and Bob Servant star Brian Cox said there was not enough PPE in Scotland.

“Some (staff) have even been told to hold their breath to avoid contracting Covid-19,” he said.

“Masks for Scotland is a reputable supplier of PPE and is ready to support efforts in getting it to the frontline.”

Masks for Scotland can be supported via the Crowfunder website.