Latest News | 3 March 2021
Hero Box initiative recognises lockdown’s finest
Carers, key workers and a 90-year-old who is ‘missing her art classes’ are among the first to benefit from a new initiative launched by Colleague Box.
The Derby letterbox gift company’s Hero Box initiative aims to recognise and reward inspirational individuals during lockdown.
Every month, Colleague Box chooses 10 worthy heroes nominated by friends and family to receive one of their personalised boxes.
Among the first to receive a Hero Box, which contain a number of goodies, including bath bombs supplied by Divine Box, was 90-year-old Eve Bunyan.
She was nominated by daughter Bev Crighton, who said: “My mum is nearly 90 and lives 150 miles away from me.
“I nominated her because she has been amazing, so inspiring during lockdown, and has never moaned once about having to give up the activities which she enjoys doing so much, such as bridge and painting.
“It has been so hard to try to look after her during the past 12 months and mum must get lonely – but she never moans.”
Also among the first recipients was Gary Burr, who was nominated by friend Glen Merryweather for his “amazing commitment” to raising vital funds for the British Heart Foundation.
And Katie Wells, business development executive for Marketing Derby, nominated her mum, Jane.
Katie said: “Mum has been caring for my dad for the past couple of years, since he was diagnosed with Parkinsons and subsequently Multiple System Atrophy (MSA); a rare condition of the nervous system that causes gradual damage to nerve cells in the brain. It affects less than 20,000 people in the UK.
“Mum can’t leave dad alone for too long in case his blood pressure drops of spikes and he falls or faints. Lockdown has been difficult and mum always tries her best, whatever the situation.
“She puts so much thought into caring for other people, and the Hero Box is a lovely way to show that people care about her too.”
Natalie Bamford, creative director at Colleague Box, which she set up with husband Adam, said: “It has been quite emotional reading all of the nominations for people doing such a great job out there during a difficult time.
“We’ve had nominations for teachers, NHS staff, keyworkers and people like Eve, Gary and Jane, who are very deserving of a treat from Colleague Box thanking them for their efforts.
“There are a lot of very worthy people doing wonderful things out there and, hopefully, this will show them just how much they are appreciated.”
