ERI nurse wins national 'hero' award after raising £30k for Covid-19 patients' Rainbow Boxes

An ERI research nurse has won a national ‘real-life heroes’ award after raising £55,000 for ‘Rainbow Boxes’ delivering essential toiletries, clothes and electronic equipment to patients on Covid-19 wards in the Edinburgh area.

Alison Williams set up the campaign in March hoping to raise £500 towards toiletries, nightwear and other essentials for patients who had been admitted to Covid-19 wards with no belongings and without family and friends being able to visit them.

It struck a chord and by the end of April she had raised over £29,000 in individual donations.

RBS donated an additional £25,000 from the bank’s 300 Fund, which supports positive causes around Scotland.

Alison has now won a ‘real-life heroes’ award from travel company Stuba, along with a £300 hotel voucher.

She was nominated by travel agent Isobel McCardie of Rock My World travel, based in North Berwick.

Alison plans to use the voucher on a one-night break in Scotland with a colleague, Rachel, who also worked on the Rainbow Boxes campaign.

"For someone who doesn’t even know me to nominate me is really flattering and kind,” she said.

"It’s been a really busy time and that’s why it’s so great to win this prize and be able to get away for a night.

"It’s been tiring but it’s been very rewarding as well.

"It’s all about the patients and getting them what they need.”

Alison created a registered charity, the Rainbow Box Foundation, to manage the donations.

She and a very small team of colleagues distributed the boxes themselves.

They will continue to do so until October, Alison said, adding that it won’t be until the ban on hospital visitors is lifted that they will know whether or not the service is still needed.