NEWS
SEVENOAKS DOCTOR FEATURES IN COVID HEROES BOOK
Ẉhen coronavirus hit , Chanelle Smith was one of hundreds of University of Bristol medicine students who stepped up to the frontline of the NHS while still studying . Her work – including in critical care – has led to her inclusion in One Hundred Reasons to Hope , a children ’ s illustrated book that publisher Puffin says “ celebrates the stories of triumph , perseverance and positivity from the past year ”.
The book is curated by double Paralympic gold medallist Danielle Brown MBE , illustrated by Adam Larkum and begins with a foreword from Captain Sir Tom Moore ’ s daughter , Hannah Ingram-Moore .
Chanelle , from Sevenoaks , said : “ I am completely overwhelmed and humbled to be included in a children ’ s book full of such inspirational stories .
“ I feel so grateful to be able to represent all the medical students that stepped up during such an uncertain time . As a medical student , I felt that discharge letters , taking bloods , all small but essential jobs were not worthy of commendation but , just as Tom Moore has shown us , no action is too small to make a difference !
“ It is truly a privilege to stand alongside such esteemed and courageous individuals . This book encapsulates everything that Tom Moore stands for and I am sure that it will truly inspire hope .”
One Hundred Reasons to Hope is published on September 16 by Puffin . £ 1 from each hardback sale in the UK and Ireland will be donated to The Captain Tom Foundation .
ELMER ’ S BIG HEART OF KENT PARADE AUCTION RAISES £ 312,750 FOR HEART OF KENT HOSPICE
Following the colourful Elmer ’ s Big Heart of Kent Parade , 51 stunning Elmer sculptures have gone under the hammer at a special auction hosted by Clive Emson Land and Property Auctioneers , raising a staggering £ 312,750 for the hospice .
Ralph Steadman ’ s Elly-do , Ely-don ’ t , Elly dance raised the most , selling for an amazing £ 15,500 , with Strawberry Deuce by artist Megan Evans also proving popular , selling for an incredible £ 13,500 .
One special moment came when ‘ Ele-vate , Encourage , Embrace ’ by artist Karen Hiscock-King
sold for £ 13,500 after members of the audience stood up to pledge either £ 500 or £ 1000 , to enable the Elmer to be installed at the hospice for patients , their families , volunteers and hospice colleagues to enjoy and remember the very special event .
The phenomenal amount raised will help the Hospice to run vital services which cost £ 5 million per annum . The Hospice relies on donations , fundraisers and legacies to run its services with only small grants coming from the NHS .
WILDCAT PROJECT BEGINS AT WILDWOOD
Leading British wildlife conservation charity Wildwood Trust , in collaboration with Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust and Vincent Wildlife Trust , has begun work on 10 new breeding enclosures at its parks in Kent and Devon , to help secure the future of Britain ’ s rarest mammal , the wildcat .
Rangers at Wildwood Trust , Herne Bay , are currently hard at work clearing the ground for the new breeding centre in Kent as part of a groundbreaking new project to establish the first wild population of the wildcat outside of Scotland in over 200 years .
The new enclosures will be built set back from the main park to ensure the welfare of the animals and their young , and to offer the project and reintroductions the best chance possible of success . Each one will house a breeding pair of cats , whose kittens will later be released into the wild .
Sally Holt , senior wildcat keeper at Wildwood Trust said : “ This is a key step for everyone involved in the project . The breeding of this secretive species can be challenging . Off-show breeding enclosures will create a quieter environment and will help kittens develop key survival behaviour .
“ Wildcats have very particular den box preferences , so we have worked hard with researchers to find the right design for the new enclosures . It will be so exciting to see all this work come to fruition .”
The builds in Kent have been made possible thanks to supporters of Wildwood Trust and a generous donation from the Veolia Environmental Trust through the Landfill Communities Fund . But for work to start on the Escot enclosures , the fundraising drive continues .
To read more about the project and support the appeal visit wildwoodtrust . org or email appeals @ wildwoodtrust . org .
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