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An islander who recently had her covid vaccination is raising money to offer the same chance to some of the world's poorest and most vulnerable communities.
Wendy Ryan said her experience of getting the jab in Jersey has inspired her to help others receive their vaccination too.
Wendy started a Just Giving page to raise money for those who don't have such easy access to health care, and to provide vaccines to others in need around the world, after receiving her first dose of the vaccine earlier this year.
She said that the vaccine "felt like a gift" which encouraged her to ask herself what she could do to offer others the same opportunity. "I felt guilty because there is a problem getting the vaccine out to those in poorer countries. It’s not happening fast enough and I wanted to help," she said.
Pictured: Wendy has launched a JustGiving page and already raised enough to fund more than 80 doses.
Speaking about why she decided to ask islanders for their help, Wendy said that the island is in a unique opportunity to help others. "Our island is full of kind, generous and outward looking people. They don’t like to watch others suffer on whilst we thrive, and they see the bigger picture. I think a lot of those people feel like me and will want to help too. This is an easy way to do that."
Like many, Wendy said that the past 12 months of the pandemic has reminded her how grateful she is to live in Jersey, and brought to attention the fact that many others don't live this way.
"We’re so lucky in Jersey, but we don’t always realise it. This isn’t about me and to be honest it’s taken me some courage to put my head above the parapet, but this is something that I feel is worth doing so I had to overcome that encourage others to help too."
Wendy also highlighted how little it costs to help the cause: "I think a single dose of the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine costs £3, two doses £6. It might be the cheapest life saving thing you ever do - donating one vaccine to another human being."
The money raised will be donated to UNICEF and Médecins Sans Frontières, who work together to provide medical aid to those in need around the world. Wendy hopes that people recognise that this is a problem we can help solve, and asks that Islanders donate any amount, no matter how small.
Wendy has raised £245 so far - enough for more than 40 people to be fully vaccinated - and is hoping islanders will help her raise even more.
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