Superhero pair seek donations to continue kind work creating hampers of treats for key workers at Queen Alexandra Hospital in Cosham

TWO women in rainbow capes have swooped into Queen Alexandra Hospital during lockdown to deliver hampers of goodies.
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Known as the QA Treat Ladies, kind hearted Suzanne Sparks and her helper Emily Rich have been collecting donations to cheer up hardworking hospital staff.

Suzanne’s dining room has been piled high with cakes, biscuits, chocolates and more throughout lockdown as she has created parcels of treats.

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Catherington resident Suzanne started her treats campaign during the first lockdown to give back to her seven key worker neighbours, but was inspired to start again after seeing the strain hospitals are still under.

(l-r) Emily Rich (31) from East Meon and Suzanne Sparks (56) from Catherington, have throughout the coronavirus pandemic created hundreds of treat hampers to give to NHS staff at Queen Alexandra Hospital. 

Picture: Sarah Standing (090321-4649)(l-r) Emily Rich (31) from East Meon and Suzanne Sparks (56) from Catherington, have throughout the coronavirus pandemic created hundreds of treat hampers to give to NHS staff at Queen Alexandra Hospital. 

Picture: Sarah Standing (090321-4649)
(l-r) Emily Rich (31) from East Meon and Suzanne Sparks (56) from Catherington, have throughout the coronavirus pandemic created hundreds of treat hampers to give to NHS staff at Queen Alexandra Hospital. Picture: Sarah Standing (090321-4649)

She said: ‘There was a news report showing the second lockdown and how seriously overrun the hospital was.

‘They showed a nurse in the critical care unit and she was about to burst into tears. It really touched me so I thought now I’m going to do the hampers again.

‘It was that news report that really hit home and made me want to carry on.’

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(l-r) Emily Rich (31) from East Meon and Suzanne Sparks (56) from Catherington, have throughout the coronavirus pandemic created hundreds of treat hampers to give to NHS staff at Queen Alexandra Hospital. 

Picture: Sarah Standing (090321-4677)(l-r) Emily Rich (31) from East Meon and Suzanne Sparks (56) from Catherington, have throughout the coronavirus pandemic created hundreds of treat hampers to give to NHS staff at Queen Alexandra Hospital. 

Picture: Sarah Standing (090321-4677)
(l-r) Emily Rich (31) from East Meon and Suzanne Sparks (56) from Catherington, have throughout the coronavirus pandemic created hundreds of treat hampers to give to NHS staff at Queen Alexandra Hospital. Picture: Sarah Standing (090321-4677)
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Support for the hampers has come from kind neighbours, businesses and the community, meaning nearly 200 hampers have been created so far.

These have been given to ambulance crews, cleaners, porters, mortuary staff and each of the wards in the Cosham hospital.

Suzanne and Emily bring the goodies to the reception desk, and staff from the wards come to collect the hampers, which also include letters and drawings from the community.

Suzanne said: ‘It makes me feel good doing nice things for people. Everything is sprayed, sanitised in my home and it’s left for three days before I put it in a hamper.

(l-r) Emily Rich (31) from East Meon and Suzanne Sparks (56) from Catherington, have throughout the coronavirus pandemic created hundreds of treat hampers to give to NHS staff at Queen Alexandra Hospital. 

Picture: Sarah Standing (090321-4638)(l-r) Emily Rich (31) from East Meon and Suzanne Sparks (56) from Catherington, have throughout the coronavirus pandemic created hundreds of treat hampers to give to NHS staff at Queen Alexandra Hospital. 

Picture: Sarah Standing (090321-4638)
(l-r) Emily Rich (31) from East Meon and Suzanne Sparks (56) from Catherington, have throughout the coronavirus pandemic created hundreds of treat hampers to give to NHS staff at Queen Alexandra Hospital. Picture: Sarah Standing (090321-4638)
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‘It’s just so lovely to see their faces light up. Some of them have been very tearful when they have come to get their treats, they have been so overwhelmed.

‘It gives them a sense of worth and they call us the QA Treat Ladies now. It’s just lovely that everyone’s getting involved, I just need more money to buy more treats.’

With funds beginning to run low, the pair are calling for more donations so this free service can continue.

If anyone would like to thank staff for caring for themselves or a family member, they can leave a message with their donation nominating a team.

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Visit justgiving.com/crowdfunding/suzanne-sparks3 to donate towards a hamper.

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