Holding Hands - Urgent Appeal:
Our image, based on the touching photo for the ‘Hold Still’ Exhibition is to be used to help the NHS to connect patients with loved ones.
THE MOVING STORY
In October last year we were approached by the granddaughter of a wonderful elderly Worthing couple – Pat and Ron
Wood, who after 71 years or marriage, spent their last days in Worthing hospital after contracting Covid 19.
They had been admitted into Worthing Hospital a few days apart and were originally nursed separately. After realising the
couple’s health situation, the kind nursing staff moved their beds together so they could hold hands. Pat sadly died in her
sleep and Ron died five days later.
Their granddaughter, Hayley Evans, took this moving photograph whilst in hospital. It was taken wearing full PPE through a visor. It was the last time she ever saw them. Hayley wanted us to recreate the photograph as a piece of art using a colourful style depicting the fun side of her much missed grandparents.
We originally gave Hayley a price for the work but after consideration and chatting together overnight, we suggested an alternative to Hayley. We said that we recognised that there could be an opportunity to use the proposed image to front
a fund raising page to help the NHS. Part of our own donation would be to give our time to create the art for free and we
would also organise the fund raising and media awareness of the campaign.
Thanks to our friend Lisa Carmel who has helped us with raising awareness of the campaign, we are aiming to raise money to pay for various equipment and services that NHS Charities Together are desperately in need of items like electronic tablets so patients can connect with family so they feel less isolated, provide bereavement support for families who have lost loved ones, and counselling for staff to protect their mental health.
Photo: Pat and Ron Wood on their 70th wedding anniversary. The couple were together for 71 years. Photo: Derek Martin
We agreed with Hayley that our original artwork which is of some considerable size which we framed in a platinum colour to represent the couple’s recent platinum wedding anniversary, will be donated to Worthing Hospital to say thank you to all the staff that cared for Ron and Pat in their last days. We hope it will also serve as a memory to all the thousands of people who have lost their lives during the pandemic.
To read the full list see here:
https://www.nhscharitiestogether.co.uk/covid-19-urgent-appeal-qas/
Please donate whatever you can afford and help make a difference for those in need.
Thank you.
Stella and Gem
Holding Hands – Urgent Appeal:
MORE ABOUT THE STORY
The photo of Pat and Ron holding each other’s hands, was submitted along with over 31,000 others to be considered as part of 100 winning entries. The photograph called ‘’Forever Holding Hands” forms part of the exhibition 'Hold Still’ to capture the spirit of a nation in lockdown.
