Fund-raising appeal to help long Covid sufferers

Louise Barnes, who has endured a horrendous health ordeal lasting several months, is appealing to borough residents to help a fund-raising drive for those experiencing long-term health issues from Covid-19.

The crowd-funder has been set up by the Chronic Long Covid group and particularly wants to raise enough money for people with the condition to get scans.

The crowd-funding campaign is being run by senior banker Lisa Milburn.

Louise, who lived in Wigan until she was a teenager, established the Chronic Long Covid website which acts as an international portal bringing together patients, medical professionals and health bodies and organisations to share knowledge of the lasting health effects being suffered.

The support group is also organising an online conference on Thursday involving patients and medical experts from around the world.

Louise said: “The funds raised will be used to help people in remote area access research scans, help pay towards the cost of scans, private scans where needed, transport to and from scans or overnight accommodation.

“We are also in the second phase of fund-raising the remaining money for plug-ins that will allow a forum for patients, doctors, researchers and experts to work in a collaborative way.

“We can also launch the interactive forum to share cures and remedies and get people help globally.

“It’s the charitable time of year and I know Wigan folk can be a generous bunch. I’m a Wigan girl and we would like to ask if the Wigan community would consider donating to help us get our interactive forum established for patients all over the UK and the globe.”

The crowd-funder is looking to raise £2,000, with more than £1,200 in the kitty already.

Louise set up a Facebook support group for long-Covid sufferers after she became horrendously ill with a long list of symptoms.

Thousands of people from around the world connected with the group to relate their similar experiences after initially contracting Covid-19.

However, Louise says many people in this position have had terrible trouble getting MRI or CT scans to assess potential damage to their brains, heart, lungs, kidneys. gastric tract and liver, with some health professionals instead saying they are struggling with their mental health.

Some members who have been able to get scans have found out their internal organs have been affected and there are also worries about blood clots that long-Covid sufferers may be facing.

Shockingly the average member of the group has around 50 symptoms, with more than 200 effects of the illness recorded in total.

Many of the group who decided not to put pressure on the NHS by staying at home when they became unwell have effectively found there is no medical proof of what is now wrong with them, a situation getting scans would solve.

Louise has taken her campaign for better support to high levels of Government, writing to Jeremy Hunt in his capacity as chairman of the parliamentary health select committee.

She also now sits on the NHS Taskforce for long Covid as well as a couple of national health committees looking at the issue.

To find out more about the portal or the conference, visit www.chroniclongcovid.com/

To donate to the crowd-funder, go to www.gofundme.com/f/Forgottenvictimscovid19

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