Just four months after it was launched, the appeal for funds to help John Rushton regain mobility and dexterity has beaten its target, thanks to the efforts of colleagues across Royal Mail.
John, a night shift delivery manager at Thurrock, contracted gangrene after becoming seriously ill last Christmas. He lost both legs below the knee, his right hand and the fingers of his left hand. Friends and family began fund raising for £50,000 to get John prosthetic legs and bionic hands.
John’s positive attitude and determination to overcome his injuries struck a chord with colleagues around the business – most of whom have never met him. From cake sales to raffles, events have been held across Royal Mail.
Coming together for a cause
John McInnes, from Parcelforce in Camden, raised £2,000 by running the London Marathon. The biggest, most successful event was held last Tuesday evening, when group Technology organised a quiz night, raffle and silent auction, persuading suppliers to donate prizes and cash. They raised more than £60,000!
Duncan Jarvis, John’s unit manager, said: 'We can't believe it. We'd set an overall target of £50,000 and hoped to raise half of this in a year, so this is amazing.'
Catherine Doran, Technology director, sponsored the event. She said: ‘Everyone has been so wonderful and has got behind this deserving cause. We are all proud and delighted with the success and feel we are actually living the values – Be Positive, Be Brilliant, Be Part of it! What a great family we are in Royal Mail.’
The total amount raised for John is now well over £70,000.
John, a night shift delivery manager at Thurrock, is determined to walk again and to resume as many of his former activities as possible.
He said: 'It's overwhelming news and I had a tear in my eye when I found out how much they'd raised, because there's so much we can do with that money.
'The Royal Mail family is a brilliant one to be a part of and I can't tell you how nice it is for so many people to help like this. 'I'm now at home and my wife is being an absolute star in caring for me.'
You can read more on John’s story, and hear from John himself, in the next issue of Courier.