Coronavirus UK: James McAvoy donates £275k to show NHS ‘valued’

James McAvoy has claimed that his generous £275k donation to the NHS this weekend was not simply to help buy supplies for staff – but to show how much they are valued and supported by the public during the coronavirus crisis.

The X-Men actor, 40, told ITV’s Good Morning Britain: ‘One of the main reasons I wanted to give money, and why I upped the amount of money, was not just to get [Personal Protective Equipment] across there, which is so important, but secondarily I’d say it was more to show a sign of support to the frontline staff.

‘I’ve heard that morale is incredibly low and they’re feeling exposed and vulnerable and like they haven’t been supported properly.

Helping the cause: James McAvoy has claimed that his generous donation to the NHS this weekend was not simply to help buy supplies for staff – but to show how much they are valued and supported by the public

‘I think we’ve got to protect those incredible doctors and surgeons and porters and the lady that fills the vending machine at the hospital, and we’ve got to protect all of those people by staying indoors, we’ve got to protect all of those people by social distancing and by taking it seriously, and I think people are starting to take it more seriously.

‘They’ve got to protect their families, and I just wanted to help start a conversation that says to the NHS, we value you so much.’

James added that he has a personal sense of value toward the NHS, explaining: ‘They’ve saved my life and the lives of my family multiple times, and they probably will be doing it at some point in the near future again, so please please please know we value you.’

The Scottish actor described COVID-19 as ‘an invisible enemy that [NHS frontline staff] are fighting every day on our behalf’.

The X-Men actor, 40, told ITV's Good Morning Britain: 'One of the main reasons I wanted to give money... was more to show a sign of support to the frontline staff' [Dr Mona Barzin, one of those behind the campaign, is also pictured]

The X-Men actor, 40, told ITV’s Good Morning Britain: ‘One of the main reasons I wanted to give money… was more to show a sign of support to the frontline staff’ [Dr Mona Barzin, one of those behind the campaign, is also pictured]

He said: ‘It’s an absolute war zone and we’re asking them to go and fight that war with no weaponry, no armour’

He said: ‘It’s an absolute war zone and we’re asking them to go and fight that war with no weaponry, no armour, and I’m sure it’s going to get fixed in the coming weeks and months, but in that interim, what is happening right now, the threats that they face and the threat of them passing it onto their patients and their patients’ families is huge, so you know every day that goes by without the correct PPE is an opportunity lost to save someone’s life.

‘The sooner that we can get PPE in there, even donating £10, that might mean you might potentially save a life because you provided essential PPE to a healthcare provider in this essentially important time to get it done.’ 

The campaign Masks For NHS Heroes was set up by a group of four doctors, and has raised more than £900,000 so far.

Their mission is to ‘purchase certified PPE to donate directly to the NHS front line and protect staff and patients’.

Dr Mona Barzin, one of those behind the campaign, told the programme that the Atonement star’s donation has helped them to raise a larger amount than they first thought.

Gesture: 'They've got to protect their families, and I just wanted to help start a conversation that says to the NHS, we value you so much,' he asserted

Gesture: ‘They’ve got to protect their families, and I just wanted to help start a conversation that says to the NHS, we value you so much,’ he asserted

Generous: James, who last year starred in the likes of Glass and IT: Chapter Two, has helped to buy the likes of masks, visors and gloves for hospitals after the medics launched the crowdfunding page on Thursday

Generous: James, who last year starred in the likes of Glass and IT: Chapter Two, has helped to buy the likes of masks, visors and gloves for hospitals after the medics launched the crowdfunding page on Thursday

She said: ‘We thought we’d get a small amount of donations, then James gave us his first initial amount, which was also incredible, but then he upped it and it took us to a completely different level.’

James also told the programme how those in the acting community are feeling amid the pandemic, which has seen the UK and other countries put in a lockdown-style situation to adhere to social distancing measures.

He said: ‘A friend of mine, whilst we were social distancing, he came to borrow something and I chucked it out the window of our flat.

‘I said, “How you doing man?” and he said, “You know it’s great, I’ve got no anxiety about my career, right now I’ve got the exact same career as Benedict Cumberbatch!”‘

Running out: The campaign was set up by a group of concerned NHS doctors to raise money for Personal Protective Equipment. James' contribution means an order of 75,000 masks and 75,000 visors can be immediately placed

Running out: The campaign was set up by a group of concerned NHS doctors to raise money for Personal Protective Equipment. James’ contribution means an order of 75,000 masks and 75,000 visors can be immediately placed

James, who last year starred in the likes of Glass and IT: Chapter Two, has helped to buy the likes of masks, visors and gloves for hospitals after the medics launched the crowdfunding page on Thursday, claiming that they were ‘going to war without armour’.

The campaign’s target was £200,000 and it has already surpassed this, currently standing at over £440,000, with a new goal of £500,000.

James said on Instagram: ‘Money donated today will save lives … Help us to help the government to help the NHS.’

James said on Instagram: 'Money donated today will save lives … Help us to help the government to help the NHS'

James said on Instagram: ‘Money donated today will save lives … Help us to help the government to help the NHS’

The Guardian reports that Dr Salaj Masand, one of the fund’s organisers, said: ‘We are overwhelmed and speechless at the trust and faith people have put into us to deliver this.

‘The number of very generous donations from everyone doubled our target within three days.’

He branded Hollywood star James’ contribution ‘mindblowing’ and that it amounts to an order of 75,000 masks and 75,000 visors.

The order can be placed immediately, thanks to this sizable donation.

The medic went on: ‘This is a global catastrophic event and an extremely tough time for governments across world, no different from ours. There is a worldwide shortage of [Personal Protective Equipment] PPE [that’s] likely to go on for months.

James added that he has a personal sense of value toward the NHS, explaining: 'They've saved my life and the lives of my family multiple times, and they probably will be doing it at some point in the near future again, so please please please know we value you'

James added that he has a personal sense of value toward the NHS, explaining: ‘They’ve saved my life and the lives of my family multiple times, and they probably will be doing it at some point in the near future again, so please please please know we value you’

‘The government is doing all it can but the NHS needs all the help it can get. We are also competing with the commercial market who are trying to sell the same PPE for extraordinary prices.’

He also revealed that one of the other doctors behind the crowdfunding campaign has tested positive for COVID-19.

The government have been approached by private sellers since the outbreak of the virus, offering inadequate PPE at extortionate costs.

‘That is why we raised the capital ourselves and hope to help government distribute these supplies in best possible way,’ explained Dr Masand.

Passionate: The Scottish actor described COVID-19 as 'an invisible enemy that [NHS frontline staff] are fighting every day on our behalf'

Passionate: The Scottish actor described COVID-19 as ‘an invisible enemy that [NHS frontline staff] are fighting every day on our behalf’

‘Unfortunately current hospital supplies are not sufficient and while we are reassured the government is doing everything it can, healthcare workers on the frontline are risking themselves daily without adequate protection to care for sick patients.

‘Healthcare workers on the frontline without PPE is the equivalent of going to war without armour and protection.’

Equipment is in such short supply that medical TV dramas such as Holby City and Casualty in the UK, as well as Grey’s Anatomy in the US, are sending their PPE props to hospitals to help with the shortfall.

Most shows around the world have halted production, as have movie sets.  

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