Priyanka Khandar
Wolverhampton-based volunteers are raising money to send vital oxygen supplies to India amid the growing Covid-19 crisis there.
The SNJ Charitable Trust, based in the iconic building of Lakshmi Sweets & Restaurant on Dudley Road, Blakenhall, has already paid for 100 cylinders and regulators to be sent to struggling hospitals where staff are battling to save lives amid an oxygen shortage.
Organisers have set an ambitious £150,000 fundraising target to pay for hundreds more and help as many people as they can in the stricken country.
Neena Julka, Founder and CEO of the trust, said: “We are urging people and businesses to dig deep and support this appeal. So many people have lost their lives and so many more are gasping for breath. They need this equipment urgently.
“This is a challenging fundraising target, but what is life without a challenge? We just want to do everything we can to help.”
Neena said the trust, which also has a team based in Delhi, was working closely with the High Commission of India and the Indian Red Cross to get the equipment to where it is needed as quickly as possible.
Neena said the trust worked on projects to improve health and education in the UK and India. Part of its work in India involves sponsoring young people through education, helping to lift them out of poverty and become financially independent.
One of the students being helped is Priyanka Khandar, who is in her second year of studying medicine. She contacted Neena to let her know she had been called up to help with the Covid response in Ahmedabad.
“She is excited to be involved, but it’s so tough,” said Neena. “These supplies are desperately needed out there to help save lives.”
The trust has already raised around £28,000 towards its target, including more than £11,000 through a Go Fund Me page.
To find out more visit snjcharitabletrust.org.
To donate to the appeal, visit gofundme.com/f/snjs-fundraising-oxygen-concentrators-for-india or email [email protected].
