SPORTS STARS CHEER ON OUR TEAM
... the cry of some of Britain’s biggest stars who want YOU to join the helpforce team
A STRING of sports stars have gone into bat for the Daily Mail’s NHS volunteer recruitment campaign.
Jockey Frankie Dettori, Olympic champion Dame Kelly Holmes and former England cricketer Alastair Cook are among the sporting greats encouraging readers to support the initiative:
FRANKIE DETTORI (CHAMPION
JOCKEY): ‘The Daily Mail/Helpforce campaign is a fantastic idea and I urge anyone who has a little spare time to volunteer. The NHS is a real treasure and comes to the aid of so many in this country. By offering to give a few hours to help out, volunteers will hopefully make a big difference to the hardworking NHS staff.’
BRYAN ROBSON (FORMER ENGLAND FOOTBALL CAPTAIN): ‘This is just a great cause. We all rely on the NHS being there for us and our families but they can’t always take care of everything on their own. Anyone who volunteers their time has my utmost respect and support. That extra pair of hands and teamwork can be so important as it affords the professionals vital time to help those who really need it.’
DARREN GOUGH (FORMER ENGLAND CRICKETER): ‘My mum was a midwife so the NHS has always had a special place in the hearts of all my family. But they cannot have enough help and I fully support this scheme to get more volunteers supporting their wonderful work. Every little helps and this is a marvellous way for everybody to do their bit.
DAME KELLY HOLMES (OLYMPIC
CHAMPION): ‘It’s time to shout about all the incredible things the NHS does and the people that work for it. My family depended on the NHS last year, for the care of my late mother who had also worked for the NHS for 30 years. Thank you for everyone who does their best everyday and under difficult circumstances, to protect, care, prolong or save lives. You are all amazing!’
JAMIE REDKNAPP ( FORMER
ENGLAND FOOTBALLER): ‘This is a really important campaign. We never know when we are going to need hospital care. It is vital that we give the NHS all the support we can and volunteering is a great way people can help.’
ALASTAIR COOK (FORMER ENGLAND CRICKETER): ‘It only takes a few hours here and there to provide invaluable help to the doctors and nurses doing so much good work in the NHS. Boosting the number of volunteers is a wonderful way to support a great institution.’
MARTIN KEOWN (FORMER ENGLAND FOOTBALLER): ‘Volunteers provided a brilliant service when I took my dad to our local hospital in Oxford. They would help him into a wheelchair and look after him while I tried to park the car. It is great that people volunteer at hospitals but we need more.’
ANDREW STRAUSS (FORMER ENGLAND CRICKETER): ‘The NHS does an amazing job for everyone in this country but anyone can provide help to allow them to carry on their priceless work. I support the Mail’s campaign to attract volunteers to do their bit and allow the experts to save lives.’ JONNIE PEACOCK (PARALYMPIC CHAMPION): ‘I’ve been a patient in the NHS many times... when it comes to saving lives, they’re there, and they will do everything they can. So please support the Daily Mail and Helpforce campaign and sign up to be a volunteer. I promise you, it’ll be the best thing you’ve done.’
NASSER HUSSAIN (FORMER ENGLAND CRICKETER): ‘I am backing the Daily Mail/Helpforce project and would urge anyone who has time to give to consider getting involved. Volunteering to help the NHS could really make a difference – it is an invaluable resource to support the treatment and care of so many people in this country. That’s why this campaign is so important.’
PETER SCUDAMORE (FORMER
CHAMPION JOCKEY): ‘Both my mother and father were helped by the NHS and, as a jumps jockey, visits to the hospital were a working fact of life. That’s why I am backing the Daily Mail/Helpforce campaign. If enough volunteers come forward it can make a huge difference and ease the pressure on a hard-pressed service.’ GREG RUTHERFORD (OLYMPIC CHAMPION): ‘The NHS is a wonderful institution and I am delighted to support this campaign by the Daily Mail and Helpforce. The work the NHS do is invaluable and anything that can be done to support it would be a great help. We can all be proud of the NHS.’
DAVID LLOYD (FORMER ENGLAND CRICKET COACH): ‘Everyone has a story about an NHS hero – so now’s the time for everyone to get behind them! Volunteers only have to give up a few hours and take on simple tasks... but it can be a big win for you, staff and patients. I’m behind anyone who backs the Daily Mail/Helpforce campaign.’