Laganside Netball get on the ball to buy and deliver PPE to local NHS workers

A number of great fundraising opportunities had allowed the club to build up a reserve of cash flow in order to continue the development of the Club and its players.

Dawn Baxter, the Club’s stalwart and Head Coach has spent a lot of lockdown with committee members putting those funds to great use and organising the purchasing of much needed PPE for the local hospitals during the COVID19 pandemic.

Everything from disposable masks, gowns, face shields, gloves, aprons, hair covers, arm covers to umpteen bottles of hand sanitizer and skin protection cream have been purchased and delivered to those frontline key workers who need our help.

“Having spent Laganside’s surplus funds on PPE the club then decided to set up a JustGiving page with the initial target of raising £1500,” explained Dawn.

“This was achieved within 24 hours and the support and generosity was amazing. The current total is just below £3000 and the Club have raised their target to £5000 given the ongoing shortages and vital need to protect the frontline staff on a daily basis.”

So far, the PPE purchased from an array of suppliers has been disinfected by Dawn and her daughters Megan and Jessica.

It has been delivered by Dawn, Denise, Kiera and Breige and received by NHS staff, at a safe distance and with huge smiles.

Areas that have been covered by the Club include Lagan Valley Hospital, RVH ED and COVID19 testing Pods, Mater Hospital, Balmoral MOT Centre Testing Pods, City Hospital Nightingale Unit, Paediatric Unit and Mental Health Unit at the Ulster Hospital.

Laganside Netball Club would also like to thank all the people who have made donations and purchased gifts to add to the pamper hampers that have been made for each hospital on top of the vital PPE deliveries.

“Senior member Lyndsey and Club founder Liz have been knitting and sewing buttons on holders to keep masks in place and save the medics’ ears from discomfort,” added Dawn.

“The staff have been so grateful to have these, and little things like toiletries (a massive thank you to Lyndsey for all her additional donations), face masks, hand and foot moisture packs to look forward to in the quiet spaces during and after their difficult days.

“Laganside are asking for your continued support to enable the purchase of more hand sanitiser, gowns, face shields, masks, all of which are increasingly expensive and in short supply.

“To access the link for their JustGiving page search for ‘Laganside Netball’ on JustGiving or go to Laganside’s Facebook page where you can see updates from the Club and comments from the grateful hospital staff, as well as some fun videos from the Mini and Junior teams.

“If you would like to make a much needed donation to help Laganside continue to provide and support the NHS then please find the link or likewise if you are a manufacturer or distributor of any of these items please get in touch at

[email protected]

“Finally, Laganside Netball Club would like to pay tribute to each and every person who is acting as a key worker during this pandemic, nothing could prepare anyone for this but with sheer determination and through the exhaustion and tears you are all making the world, even our little corner of it, a safer and healthier place, so… Thank you!”