Ian Berry
I Clap For
Fundraising for NHS Charities Together
Story
We were told not to greet with them, we were told not to hug with them, to not go without washing them...
But what they never told us to do, was clap.
It was we that wanted to show our gratitude. We clapped, clapped for our healthcare heroes, our friends, our family, for those battling it and those on the frontlines. But who do you clap for?
This here all began with my son, Elliott, looking forward to clapping at 8pm every Thursday. Each day he’d ask, “When is it Thursday?”, as he’d continuously prepare to go out.
I would explain to him what the clapping was for and that we were clapping for those who kept us safe - including his Auntie who is on the corona team at Lund Hospital in Sweden and other friends, including many that were sick, his new heroes.
Together, we made two clapping hands (he took the photo of mine to work from) completely out of denim (my usual medium) and transformed them into an animation - a clap. Home schooling! What was meant to be a personal piece of art to work on with Elliott, grew.
It was he who wanted to see it on the home projector. The next minute we were beaming it off the balcony... an idea was born.
It didn't fully work on the roof of my building which led to a call to Andrew Hall in Newcastle, when he heard what I wanted to do he fell for the idea, and soon galvanised his friends and contacts to help do the same in their areas. A leader in the field Ben Fender has done the same in London now we have started to have a community wanting to beam this positive message in their Town or City.
I sent out to some of my contacts too and soon a piece of art showing a simple clap has been projected on fire stations, the sides of corner shops and castles across the world.
It's been as far North on the Island of Britain as John O'Groats and South as Portsmouth, it's been projected in Wales, Scotland and England, then from Newcastle to New Orleans. It's been seen in Mexico, Colombia, Sweden, Italy and it is growing two fold per night.
From humble beginnings this has grown beyond me and now we'd love to spread this around the country and beyond. Please support us as we support NHS Charities Together as while we may all clap for many different people and organisations, we feel they encapsulate this spirit and do amazing work covering a wide spectrum of charities and much needed funds.
Your donation will go directly to them, but will help drive us on and encourage us to make this platform to add to the clapping. It will support us to show those who we clap for.
About NHS Charities Together
NHS Charities Together is a membership organisation representing, supporting and championing NHS Charities.
NHS Charities Together provides a forum for nationwide fundraising and advocacy campaigns, specialist advice and guidance, bespoke conferences and training opportunities, as well as access to online resources and support through exclusive member pages on our website.
NHS Charities Together also provides the collective voice of NHS Charities on a national scale and the impact they make.
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