Widow of Doncaster medic who died from coronavirus sets up fundraising campaign in his honour

Kevin Smith, a plaster technician at Doncaster Royal Infirmary for more than four decades, died on Easter Sunday after losing his battle with COVID-19.

He became the town’s first NHS worker to die from the virus.

Now his widow Diane has set up the Kev’s Wheels Appeal in his memory to buy wheelchairs for Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

Her JustGiving page is already closing in on its target of £5,000, with hundreds of donations pouring in.

She said: “Kev had worked as a plaster technician at Doncaster Royal Infirmary since 1983 - wherever we went we always bumped into someone he had ‘plastered’!

“Kev himself spent many years in plaster due to a congenital abnormality of his lower leg and in 1982 took the decision to have his leg amputated. so from a very early age he knew exactly what it was like to experience mobility problems.

“It was with this in mind that I decided to ask for donations in memory of Kev and put the money raised towards the cost of new wheelchairs for DBTH. Kev was always complaining he could never find chairs for patients and when he did, they had a mind of their own.

“Kev loved his job and the people he worked with and from the number of tributes there have been in response to his death it has become obvious he in turn was a much loved and respected member of staff.

“Kev lost his fight against this horrendous virus despite the exemplary care he received.

“Over the years, DBTH have been good to Kev and I so the least we can do in Kev’s memory is raise as much money as we can so patients and staff will have access to a wheelchair wherever and whenever they need one.”

Paying tribute last month, Richard Parker, Chief Executive at Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals, said: “I am utterly heartbroken to share the news that Kevin Smith, a well-respected and hugely popular member of our team, has sadly passed away following a brief, but courageous, battle with Covid-19.

“A plaster technician at Doncaster Royal Infirmary and a valued member of the team for over 35 years, Kev, as he was known to friends and colleagues, was renowned for his warm personality, diligence and compassion.

“He will be missed beyond all measure by everyone at the Trust.

“I am incredibly thankful to colleagues who cared for Kevin, and for their tireless efforts during this time.

“As an organisation, we share our collective thoughts, condolences and deepest sympathies with Kevin’s wife, Diane.”

You can donate to the appeal HERE