A STAGGERING amount of money has been raised for Dorset County Hospital as its staff work tirelessly to beat coronavirus.

More than £28,000 has been raised in just 10 days after an appeal, backed by the Dorset Echo, was launched to raise funds our NHS heroes.

Staff at Dorset County Hospital are going above and beyond the call of duty to care for the most vulnerable members of society.

The NHS is at the forefront of the fight against coronavirus, and DCH's dedicated staff - from domestics to doctors, nurses to porters - are doing all they can to care for those most at risk.

The money is being used to support the wellbeing of staff and vulnerable patients at DCH during the current emergency.

On top of this, the DCH charity wants to encourage the community to fundraise at home for the appeal during lockdown, and so it's now introduced a 'Lockdown Challenge.'

Fundraising ideas for the challenge include:

• Art or craft sessions with items sold or auctioned online

• Danceathons or musicathons

• Sing-a-longs or sponsored karaoke nights

• Cook-a-long demonstrations for a donation

• Virtual pub quizzes

• Live stream boardgame nights

• Garden marathon or sponsored walk around your garden or sitting room

• Sponsoring your children to do some chores, like cleaning the windows

Nick Johnson, acting chief executive at Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We are all so proud of our dedicated staff at Dorset County Hospital who are working so hard to help get our community, our families and friends through this crisis.

"This includes frontline staff working under tremendous pressure looking after Covid-19 patients and also those working tirelessly behind the scenes to support them.

"They have stepped up to the challenge and we are focused on helping them do their jobs to provide the care which is needed.”

To donate or to support the DCH Covid-19 appeal with your own Lockdown Challenge, visit justgiving.com/campaign/DCHCOVID-19Appeal and either donate or click on the orange 'start fundraising' button. This will automatically link any donations directly to the ppeal. Use #DCHLockdownChallenge to share photos and videos of your lockdown challenge events.

All fundraising activities must stay within current Government guidelines.

Financial donations may also be sent to: DCH COVID-19 Appeal, DCH Charity, Williams Avenue, Dorchester DT1 2JY.

Please do not bring financial donations or donations of goods in to the hospital at this time.