Crafters get stitching to make NHS scrubs

Across the country crafters are putting the skills to good use by creating vital supplies for hospitals.

Locally people have been getting their sewing machines out and helping to make scrubs and other equipment for the NHS.

Natural gas company firmus energy has scrubbed in to help NI’s own BBC Sewing Bee contestant, Angeline Murphy raise over £10,000 to stitch up scrubs for NHS staff tackling Covid19.

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The Magheralin-based Marketing Manager appeared on BBC’s Great British Sewing Bee and is a regular TV sewing presenter on RTE’s Today Show with Maura and Daithí.

The full-time working mum has called upon her firmus energy colleagues to distribute materials to a network of keen home-stitchers across Northern Ireland which will see thousands of scrubs made to help protect healthcare workers.

Angeline said: “I’m thrilled to receive firmus energy’s whopping £5,000 donation which has doubled my fundraising total!

“It’s so important that the community responds to the needs of the healthcare workers who put themselves at great risk to help the patients suffering from Covid-19. With so many skilled craftspeople eager to throw a stitch, it was just a matter of getting materials to them.

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“The kindness and generosity I’ve received from my friends, family and industry colleagues has been overwhelming, and the additional contribution from firmus energy is going to assist our stitching storm.

“Just over a week ago I began stitching scrubs on my own, but the requests from NHS workers were flowing in and I realised I need to call in reinforcements.

“Now I am sending fabric and materials to every county up and down the country - the support is incredible.

“With thousands of followers on my social channels it only felt right to get involved in this stitching marathon.

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“We are all in this together and I’m just doing what I can to support our NHS heroes in these terrible circumstances.”

New mother of eight-month old Henry, Rebekah Cunningham, who lives in Craigavon and is Marketing Officer at the South Eastern Regional College, has taken on the challenge of stitching vital Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in response to a major shortage for NHS employees working on the frontline during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Between nappy changes, feeds and naps, Rebekah has been glued to her sewing machine, working tirelessly to create medical scrubs for key healthcare workers.

After joining local Facebook group NI Scrubs, Rebekah was given the materials necessary to carry out this task thanks to the money raised from the ‘Search for Scrubs Fabric Fund’, which was set up by Angeline.

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Rebekah commented: “It has been absolutely fantastic to see our country coming together, whether it be in the form of donations or stitching.

“I’m just glad that I can help contribute to the PPE for staff working on the front line by sewing scrubs up for them. I feel it’s the least I can do when there are people out there risking their lives to save ours.

““There has been over 1000 metres distributed from just Angeline alone.

“I am one of hundreds if not over a thousand volunteers who are sewing up clothing across the country, so it’s just fantastic and heart-warming to see.

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“I collected my batch of fabric on Tuesday evening and I plan to make eight scrub sets within a couple of days to get them out as soon as possible.”

Donations can be made to Angeline’s fundraising efforts at www.gofundme.com/f/search-for-scrubs-fabric-fund.

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