I Clap For those fighting Covid 19 around the world
Ian Berry is raising money for Medecins Sans Frontieres / Doctors Without Borders (MSF)
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The Covid 19 virus has shown no respect of borders. Right now, Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) is providing urgently needed medical care and support in more than 70 countries to counter the coronavirus disease so truly a great organisation to support in these times representing a universal effort.
Something else that is universal is clapping. In many countries around the world they clap to show their support for those battling the disease. We have been projecting this simple gesture in many countries.
As humans we all clapped 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 here in London. 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.
We beamed it on some other buildings, and he thought it was like a bat signal, it didn't quite work on the roof, so I made a few calls as he wanted to see it on there. It led me to Andrew Hall in Newcastle, and when he found out what I wanted to do with a projector he said, I want to do that too! Though various networks it had now been beamed across the world, the pictures come in and you should see Elliott's face!
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 the length and breadth of the UK, then from Newcastle all the way to New Orleans. It's been seen in Mexico, Sweden, Italy, Colombia and we would love for it to reach you.
Please support us as we support Doctors Without Borders (MSF) as while we may all clap for many different people and organisations, we feel they encapsulate a spirit and do amazing work covering the whole planet, the only we will beat Corona, is if all the world is on side.
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.
MSF's emergency teams are experts at fighting disease outbreaks. I'm raising funds to support the medical teams on the ground as they respond to the coronavirus crisis. Right now, MSF is providing urgently needed medical care and support in more than 70 countries to counter the coronavirus disease. MSF's medical teams are also gearing up to confront potential outbreaks in the hundreds of areas they were already working before the pandemic struck. MSF are deploying medics, sending supplies and applying nearly 50 years of experience fighting epidemics to protect the most vulnerable and save lives.How you can help:- £16 can pay for a surgical tunic, trousers and a pair of sterile reusable gloves.- £28 can pay for protective plastic goggles for four doctors.- £58 can pay for sterile gloves for 30 medics.- £110 can pay for five protective suits to keep staff safe.Thank you.