BRADFORD’S Plastic Surgery and Burns Research Unit (PSBRU) continues to thrive during the coronavirus pandemic after being handed a £8,000 fundraising boost.

A number of fundraising events took place around the time of last month’s 35th anniversary of the Bradford City fire disaster.

Georgia Thornton (pictured), 13, of Bradford City Ribbons, makes and sells claret and amber-coloured ribbons in aid of the unit.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus:

But she has added to her fundraising efforts by selling a host of Bantams memorabilia online.

Her efforts have brought in around £1,700 for the burns unit.

 

Meanwhile, Thomas Gadd, official club photographer at Bradford City, put his daily permitted walks to good use by taking pictures of people for a donation for the Bradford Burns Unit and the Bradford Hospitals' Charity.

More than 160 fundraising doorstep portraits were only open to residents from Idle, Wrose and Thackley, as Mr Gadd, 26, himself lives in the latter place.

All people had to do in return was make a £5 donation, which resulted in a £1,925 total which will be split between the Bradford Burns Unit and the Bradford Hospitals' Charity.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus:

PSBRU at the University of Bradford was founded by Professor David Sharpe following the fire disaster at Valley Parade on May 11, 1985 where 56 people died and 258 were injured.

Other fundraising initiatives were also held by Vital Lincoln City, White Abbey Branch supporters’ group and Thackley Primary School - who proceeded with their tradition claret and amber-themed day.

A number of fundraising events took place around the time of last month’s 35th anniversary of the Bradford City fire disaster.

Another event was the 'Four Captains' video-call evening, organised and presented by Welcome to Yorkshire chief executive, James Mason, and the club's director of communications, Ryan Sparks.

This event saw former City captains Gary Jones, Peter Jackson, Stephen Darby and manager Stuart McCall, among others, come together for a night of entertainment on May 12.

Professor Ajay Mahajan, a consultant plastic surgeon and the director of research at PSBRU, said: "We have been faced with many challenges this year, on account of being caught in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"However, our research unit continues to thrive - even during these adverse times - thanks to vital funds raised by the people of Bradford, through their ingenious ideas.

"Even though things were paused at Valley Parade, Ryan and James put together a fabulous evening to keep thousands of us entertained, while at home.

"Thomas Gadd, our club’s official photographer, launched a very interesting fundraising campaign, capturing memorable moments of people at their front doors.

"Georgia Thornton has done some amazing work for us in the past but, as the lockdown affected her usual fundraising activities, she came up with the brilliant idea of raising money through auctioning Bantams memorabilia.

"Terri Whitham of the White Abbey Branch supporters' club, our friends in Lincoln - who share our pain - and Thackley Primary School also pulled together to raise great amounts.

"We are extremely grateful to everyone for continuing to support our Plastic Surgery and Burns Research Unit at the University of Bradford, through these difficult times."

Ryan Sparks, City’s director of communications, added: “This year’s fundraising efforts have been nothing short of remarkable.

“Without the possibility of staging the annual memorial fixture, our supporters have responded with fantastic determination to help get behind a cause close to all our hearts.

“It says a great deal about our fanbase - which comes together brilliantly, every year, to help raise vital funds for the PSBRU.”