Big Pink Dress will be back on the South Tyneside roads this weekend to thank the health workers who saved his life

‘Big Pink Dress’ Colin only set up the ‘10k Rainbow Dress NHS Walk’ plan on Tuesday this week.

But he has already been inundated with messages from people in lockdown, wanting him to walk past their house and wave during his route round South Shields on Saturday.

The route for Colin’s walk is still being formulated, and it will raise money for the nationwide NHS Charities COVID-19 Urgent Appeal which is gathering pace.

It aims to show thanks for the heroes of the health world who are battling to save lives during the Coronavirus pandemic.

To get the latest South Tyneside Coronavirus updates, including numbers of cases, visit the Shields Gazette website.

More than £16million has been raised for the NHS Charities COVID-19 Urgent Appeal which wants to fund well-being packs and gifts for staff and volunteers on wards. It will also fund food deliveries; pay for the cost of travel, parking, and accommodation for NHS staff and for volunteers; and enhance the well-being of NHS staff and volunteers caring for COVID-19 patients.

It’s target is to raise £100million and more than 5,000 people have already pledged their support.

Colin said: “My walk might be a little help towards the appeal but every penny helps.”

Big Pink Dress has had so many messages of support that he is already thinking of spreading the walk over a few days.

He wants to fit in every street where people have asked him to visit and wave to children who are stuck inside under lockdown.

But that’s no chore for Colin who said: “The help I got from the NHS saved my life.”

It was in June 2019 that doctors discovered problems with his heart.

After experiencing chest pains and numbness in his arm while at home, Colin went straight to South Tyneside District Hospital, where doctors told him he may have a problem with a valve in his heart, exacerbated by high blood pressure.

He had a scan and now has to take tablets to control the problem for the rest of his life.

Amazingly, he recovered sufficiently to do the Great North Run that same year.

And he added: “I am doing brilliantly now and that is down to these people. I might have to do this walk over two or three days but whatever I have to do, I will do it.

“I just want to do it for the NHS workers who are putting their lives on the line for us. There’s doctors dying and people are finally realising how serious it is.

“If I can do this and put a smile on people’s faces, then great. And I will be doing it while social distancing.”

“I know money is tight but if you can spare anything it will be truly appreciated.”

To find out more about Colin’s walk, visit https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-display/showROFundraiserPage?userUrl=Bigpinkdressfundraising&pageUrl=20.

And more details on the national fundraising campaign can be found at https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/charity-web/charity/displayCharityCampaignPage.action?charityCampaignUrl=NHSCharitiesCOVID19.

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