Doctors thank Aintree colleagues for support in £100,000 fundraising campaign as Nepal marks a year on from the earthquake which killed thousands



Leading doctors have presented Aintree University Hospital with a thank you plaque to mark support for a fundraising appeal to provide earthquake disaster and recovery support in Nepal.



A 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck the Himalayan country on 25 April 2015, killing 9,000 people and injuring more than 23,000.



Health Exchange Nepal (HExN), a small charity established to support educational links between the NHS and Nepalese medical services, launched a relief appeal which raised £100,000.



Dr Shambhu Acharya, HExN committee member, said:



“Many clinicians at Aintree University Hospital supported us with donations, fundraising and offers of help. Initially we supplied immediate disaster relief, such as survival kits and shelters. More funds were used to rebuild schools and supply hospitals, and assist local Nepalese charities. A year on from the earthquake, we are now helping develop the Nepalese medical services over a longer term, including supporting more rehabilitation services, which are very limited.”



Surgeons from Aintree University Hospital took part in fundraising challenges which saw them go barefoot, and doctors, nurses and allied health professionals made donations at a special presentation event.



Steve Warburton, Chief Executive of Aintree University Hospital, who also took part in the fundraising challenge, said:



“Staff at Aintree really rallied round, and we are honoured to receive this recognition from Health Exchange Nepal. It really brings things home to you, when you hear of how donations of even a few pounds made such a difference to people in Nepal.”



There was strong support for the appeal from across Liverpool, including a fundraising evening at the Mayur Restaurant and a £10,000 donation from the Mersey School of Anaesthesia.



To donate to Health Exchange Nepal or to find out more, please visit www.hexn.org.







Photo Caption 1 (A Year On): Shambhu Acharya and Jon Wells from HExN present Aintree Chief Executive Steve Warburton and Medical Director Dr Steve Evans with a thank you plaque.



Photo Caption 2 (NoSocksRocksAintree): Aintree surgeons go barefoot to support HExN’s ‘No Socks Rocks’ fundraising campaign.