The Leader is launching the campaign - Support The League Of Friends - as a way to give back and say thank you to those on the frontline of fighting the coronavirus...

In just a few short weeks, COVID-19 has brought the country to its knees.

Now more than ever we are reliant on doctors and nurses in our NHS hospitals. These guardians of the community are serving on the frontline under impossible pressure to save lives.

While the majority of the population are confined to their homes, these heroes are forsaking their own health and wellbeing and putting people like you and I first.

We think it is time for us to say, thank you.

The Leader is joining together to raise money for the Wrexham Maelor Hospital League of Friends.

The friends was established in 1968 and the objective is to raise funds to purchase equipment, often specialist, when hospital funding is unavailable.

The equipment is used within the Wrexham Maelor Hospital for both inpatient and outpatient use.

The main source of income for this vital charity came from its two shops, which until last week, were operating on a daily basis within the hospital building.

With those shops now closed due to the outbreak, an all-important income generating stream and vital service to both patients and staff has been lost.

Margaret Bryden, who has been chairman of the friends for the last 15 years and is due to celebrate her 40th year working for the charity next year, said the campaign would help the charity greatly.

She said: “The two shops were very popular and there was always a queue. They provided us with our main source of income.

“Every penny we raise goes directly to the Maelor and provides staff working there with the vital, life changing equipment they need.

“None of the trustees of the charity are paid anything, instead we do what we do for the sake of the brilliant staff who are putting themselves on the frontline each and every day.”

The Leader is hoping, with the help of our readers, to go some way to filling the funding gap left by the shop closures, setting a target of £5,000 for the Wrexham Maelor Hospital League of Friends.

If you would like to help, as a way to say thank you, please visit the fundraising page here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-the-league-of-friends