Thousands of Royal Navy veterans mobilise in NHS funding bid to buy life-saving ventilator

The Royal Naval Association (RNA) has rallied its 12,000-strong cohort of ‘shipmates’ in a bid to drum up £15,000 for the vital piece of kit.

The effort was the brainchild of RNA ops man Andy Christie and was a chance for retired sailors to do their bit to help during the pandemic.

It’s hoped the team will be able to donate enough cash to pay for at least one of the machines – which will be used to save the lives of those battling Covid-19.

Bill Oliphant, general secretary of the RNA, said the appeal was something that meant a lot to all the shipmates.

‘We’re very conscious that many of our members are within the population that is at-risk during this pandemic,’ said Bill, who was the former Captain of Portsmouth Naval Base. ‘We have already lost a couple of our shipmates to this hideous illness.

‘Only this morning I heard that America has lost more people to Covid-19 than they did during the entire Vietnam War. It’s horrific.

‘It made me think about the First World War and the random nature of whether that bullet or shell was going to get you. It’s the same with Covid-19.

‘So this effort is a way for our membership to contribute, in some small way, towards this campaign against this threat.’

Sailors have already raised about £6,500 for the new piece of kit.

Their effort echoes the ‘Warship Weeks’ of the Second World War, where a national savings scheme set targets for regions, cities, towns and districts to raise cash to sponsor warships, from minesweepers right up to aircraft carriers.

More than 1,200 vessels were paid for or supported in this way, with similar schemes seeing communities save towards the cost of Spitfires and other military equipment.

Modern medical ventilators can range in price from £5,000 for a small portable version to £25,000 at the top end, so Bill decided the RNA – the largest ex-navy organisation in the country – should aim to cover the cost of an average machine at £15,000.

He added: ‘We realise that funding for one machine is a relatively small contribution, but we feel it would be rewarding for our shipmates, many of whom fall into the highest-risk categories through age or illness, to be able to support the modern-day heroes of the NHS.’

Members can donate at: uk.virginmoneygiving.com/charities/TheRoyalNavalAssociation.

Cash and cheque donations can also be made to the RNA HQ, at Portsmouth Naval Base.